Muharram mourners arrested in Kashmir for pro-Palestine slogans

On 18th July, several Muharram mourners were arrested by Jammu and Kashmir police in Kashmir for raising pro-Palestine slogans during a religious procession. 

The arrests were made under the pretext of maintaining public order, but locals view them as a suppression of free speech and religious expression.

The arrested mourners were reportedly chanting slogans in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, a sentiment that resonates deeply in Kashmir due to the shared experience of occupation and oppression. The crackdown on such expressions of solidarity is seen as part of a broader effort by the Indian authorities to stifle dissent in the region.

A local lawmaker condemned the arrests, stating that the Kashmiri people have a right to express their support for oppressed communities around the world, including the Palestinians. The lawmaker further emphasized that the arrests were a violation of the fundamental rights of the mourners.