India grants bail to activist, journalist held on terror charges in Kashmir

Human rights activist Khurram Parvez and journalist Irfan Mehraj have been released on bail in New Delhi, years after their arrests on terrorism charges in Indian-administered Kashmir. Their families confirmed their release late Wednesday.

Parvez, coordinator for the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), was arrested in 2021. Mehraj, a freelance journalist also linked to JKCCS, was arrested in 2023. Both face serious charges, including "funding terrorism" and "propagation of secessionist agenda," under India's stringent anti-terror laws. These laws allow for prolonged detention without trial.

While released from prison, their freedom remains significantly curtailed. The National Investigation Agency had appealed their bail, but a higher court upheld the decision. Court orders mandate they arrange their own accommodation in New Delhi, where their trial will take place, and they are barred from returning to Kashmir. The conditions highlight the ongoing legal scrutiny and restrictions they face.