Mourners booked under anti-terrorist UAPA for raising pro-Palestine, anti-Israel slogans at a Muharram procession in Srinagar on Monday.

Groundxero | July 17, 2024

The Jammu & Kashmir police have arrested several Shia mourners for shouting pro-Palestine and anti-Israel slogans and raising a Palestinian flag during a Muharram procession on Monday at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.

The police have filed a case against the mourners under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The charges include incitement to subversive or unlawful activities and are punishable by a prison term of up to seven years.

The two major Muharram processions along the traditional routes in Srinagar have not been allowed since 1989. However, last year and this Muharram, the administration allowed a smaller procession in the early morning hours only. It was during this procession that pro-Palestine, anti-Israel and pro-Gaza slogans were shouted, transforming the traditional 8th Muharram procession into a massive pro-Palestine rally. The mourners said that they carried the Palestine flags ‘out of a natural will’ to show solidarity with the oppressed, particularly the people of Gaza.

Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, a member of parliament from the Srinagar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, wrote on X. “This is an assault on freedom of expression and that too for an expression in favour of the oppressed people. As conveyed through telephonic conversation, the Police should release these men and avoid treating them as criminals.”

Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed regret over the police action. “It’s sad UAPA was slapped for raising voice in solidarity with oppressed Palestinians, and protesting the year-long massacre of innocent children, women and unarmed citizens,” the Mirwaiz said.