SRINAGAR In occupied Kashmir, the registration of cases against two noted Kashmiri journalists, Peerzada Ashiq and female photojournalist Masarrat Zahra by the Indian authorities under serious charges drew widespread condemnation, locally as well as globally. Masarrat Zahra, whose work has been published by Al-Jazeera, The Caravan, The Quint, TRT World and other reputed organisations in India and abroad, was booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for uploading some Kashmir-related photographs. Peerzada Ashiq who works with The Hindu newspaper is facing the charge of publishing a “fake news item” with reference to a story about the two martyrs’ families, who wanted to exhume their bodies to perform funeral rites. Politicians, analysts, local and international media outlets and journalist bodies while responding to the registration of the cases said that the move has proved that the freedom of media is under serious threat in occupied Kashmir. They said that the journalists’ crime was that they were portraying true picture of Indian tyranny in the occupied territory. They maintained that press freedom in the occupied territory was under severe and sustained threat as India was using cruel methods to stifle press in the territory. The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, while denouncing the booking of the woman photojournalist in a statement in Srinagar pointed out that Masarrat Zahra was being harassed for doing her professional work in occupied Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference Chairman Shabbir Ahmed Dar in a statement issued in Srinagar strongly condemned the cases against two Kashmiri journalists.—KMS
