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{{Short description|Indian journalist and Human rights activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Irfan Mehraj
| birth_place = [[Kashmir]], India
| education = M.A (Mass communication)
| alma_mater = [[University of Kashmir]]
| occupation = Journalist and Human rights defender
}}

'''Irfan Mehraj''' is a [[journalist]] and [[Human rights defender|human rights activist]] from [[Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-11 |title=NIA court takes cognisance in alleged terror-funding case against human rights defender Irfan Mehraj – The Leaflet |url=https://theleaflet.in/nia-court-takes-cognisance-in-alleged-terror-funding-case-against-human-rights-defender-irfan-mehraj/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=theleaflet.in |language=en-US}}</ref> He works with [[Deutsche Welle]] and also writes for various publications like [[The Indian Express]], [[TRT World]], [[The Wire (India)|The Wire]], [[The Caravan]], [[Himal Southasian]] and [[The New Arab|NewArab]]. Irfan has specially written about the challenges facing the [[Muslim community]] in Kashmir. He was the Editor of [[Two Circles]] and the founding editor of Wande Magazine.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Kashmiri freelance journalist arrested by NIA worked with human rights group JKCCS |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/srinagar/kashmiri-journalist-irfan-mehraj-arrested-nia-human-rights-group-8510362/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Work of Irfan Mehraj, a Fearless Journalist Who Offered Fresh Perspectives on Kashmir |url=https://thewire.in/media/irfan-mehraj-journalist-nia-arrest-work |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Mehraj was born in [[Kashmir]], India. Mehraj successfully obtained his master's degree in mass communication and journalism from the esteemed [[University of Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=NIA Arrests Kashmiri Journalist Irfan Mehraj in Case Related to Alleged 'Terror Funding' by NGO |url=https://www.newsclick.in/nia-arrests-kashmiri-journalist-irfan-mehraj-case-related-alleged-terror-funding-ngo |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=NewsClick |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |title=NGO terror funding case: Court sends Khurram Parvez, Irfan Mehraj to 10-day NIA custody |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/ngo-terror-funding-case-court-sends-khurram-parvez-irfan-mehraj-to-10-day-nia-custody-1202657.html |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-21 |title=NIA arrests Kashmir journalist in 'terror funding' case |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/03/21/nia-arrests-kashmir-journalist-in-terror-funding-case |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=[[Newslaundry]]}}</ref>

== Detention ==
On 20 March 2023, Mehraj was arrested by the [[National Investigation Agency|National Investigation Agency (NIA)]] in Srinagar after being summoned for questioning. Mehraj's arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged terror funding linked to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kashmir. The NIA accused him of being involved with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a prominent human rights organization that has documented Human Rights violations in the region. The NIA has alleged that JKCCS was involved in funding terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley and accused the organization of promoting a "secessionist agenda" under the guise of human rights work. Mehraj was associated with the JKCCS, and its leader, [[Khurram Parvez]], had also been arrested earlier in a related case.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Asked to stop by "for five minutes," Kashmiri reporter now facing possible life imprisonment {{!}} RSF |url=https://rsf.org/en/asked-stop-five-minutes-kashmiri-reporter-now-facing-possible-life-imprisonment |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=rsf.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Court sends Irfan Mehraj to 10-day NIA custody |url=https://muslimmirror.com/eng/court-sends-irfan-mehraj-to-10-day-nia-custody/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=[[Muslim Mirror]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NIA arrests Kashmir journalist in terror funding case, Mehbooba Mufti reacts |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nia-arrests-kashmir-journalist-in-terror-funding-case-mehbooba-mufti-reacts-2349563-2023-03-21 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=India Today |date=21 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Irfan Mehraj |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/irfan-mehraj |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123084012/https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/irfan-mehraj |archive-date=2023-11-23 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[USCIRF]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Mehraj's arrest drew criticism from various international human rights organizations. [[Amnesty International]] and twelve other civil society organizations wrote a joint statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mehraj. They asserted that the arrest was part of a "growing crackdown" on journalists and human rights defenders in Indian-administered Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-20 |title=India: Immediately release Irfan Mehraj – A call from civil society on the first anniversary of his continuing arbitrary detention |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa20/7854/2024/en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927112607/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa20/7854/2024/en/ |archive-date=2024-09-27 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[Amnesty International]] |language=en}}</ref> The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts wrote to the Indian government, raising concerns over the legitimacy of Mehraj’s arrest and expressed fears that it was part of a strategy to delegitimize the human rights work of JKCCS and obstruct independent monitoring of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-08-09 |title=India: arrest & detention of Kashmiri human rights defenders Irfan Mehraj & Khurram Parvez (joint communication) |url=https://srdefenders.org/india-arrest-detention-of-kashmiri-human-rights-defenders-irfan-mehraj-khurram-parvez-joint-communication/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819133719/https://srdefenders.org/india-arrest-detention-of-kashmiri-human-rights-defenders-irfan-mehraj-khurram-parvez-joint-communication/ |archive-date=2024-08-19 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=UN SR Human Rights Defenders |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Mary Lawlor (human rights advocate)|Mary Lawlor]], UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, called for his release and the closing of the cases against Kashmiri human rights defenders.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-24 |title=India: UN expert demands immediate end to crackdown on Kashmiri human rights defenders (Press Release) |url=https://srdefenders.org/india-un-expert-demands-immediate-end-to-crackdown-on-kashmiri-human-rights-defenders-press-release/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919110334/https://srdefenders.org/india-un-expert-demands-immediate-end-to-crackdown-on-kashmiri-human-rights-defenders-press-release/ |archive-date=2024-09-19 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=UN SR Human Rights Defenders |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-21 |title=India arrests Kashmiri journalist amid ongoing media crackdown |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/21/kashmiri-journalist-irfan-mehraj-arrested-under-terrorism-charges |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413193856/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/21/kashmiri-journalist-irfan-mehraj-arrested-under-terrorism-charges |archive-date=2024-04-13 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[Al Jazeera]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[Mehbooba Mufti]] the leader of the PDP, also voiced her disapproval of Mehraj's arrest. In a Facebook post, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticized the arrest, stating that in Kashmir, criminals are allowed to roam freely while journalists like Irfan Mehraj, who are simply doing their duty by speaking the truth, are unjustly detained. [[Press Club of India|The Press Club of India]] (PCI) also condemned Mehraj's arrest,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-21 |title=Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj held under UAPA |url=https://www.siasat.com/kashmiri-journalist-irfan-mehraj-held-under-uapa-2551673/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=[[The Siasat Daily]] |language=en-US}}</ref> emphasizing their strong opposition to the imposition of UAPA on media personnel. They expressed concern over the NIA's sudden arrest of Mehraj under the UAPA law, viewing it as a clear indication of the law's misuse to suppress freedom of speech and expression and demanded his immediate release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=India: Authorities must immediately release Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/03/india-authorities-must-immediately-release-kashmiri-journalist-irfan-mehraj/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=इरफान मेहराज को NIA ने किया गिरफ्तार, पत्रकार संस्थाओं ने की आलोचना |url=https://www.satyahindi.com/jammu-kashmir/kashmir-based-journalist-irfan-mehraj-arrested-by-nia-journalism-body-criticize-133302.html |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.satyahindi.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Award for 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2024-08-26 |title=Free Press Kashmir: Jailed Kashmiri journalist among 3 honoured for best story on heroin crisis in JK |url=https://hrrfjawards.com/free-press-kashmir-jailed-kashmiri-journalist-among-3-honoured-for-best-story-on-heroin-crisis-in-jk/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=HRRFJ Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}

==External links==
* [https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/irfan-mehraj Irfan Mehraj] on [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehraj, Irfan}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Kashmiri journalists]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]]
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Kashmiri writers]]
[[Category:Kashmiri human rights activists]]
[[Category:University of Kashmir alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Irfan Mehraj - Revision history

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