Weaponizing the Law: 1,030 Days of State-Sponsored Silence for Irfan Meraj



The sun was setting over Srinagar on March 20, 2023, when the knock came the kind of knock every truth-seeker in Kashmir has learned to dread. For Irfan Meraj, that sound marked the sudden, violent end of his world as a free man. In an instant, the notepad was replaced by handcuffs, and a vibrant voice for the voiceless vanished into the gears of a state machinery designed to silence dissent. Irfan Meraj is the editor of Wande Magazine and a contributor to international media outlets. He is known for reporting on critical social issues in Kashmir, including the rise of heroin addiction and the broader human impact of prolonged conflict.


His work focused on documenting realities faced by ordinary people, particularly those narratives that remain absent from official state discourse. Rather than addressing the issues he reported on, the Indian state responded by arresting him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This law was originally enacted to combat terrorism, yet it has increasingly been applied against journalists and human rights defenders in Kashmir. Under UAPA, the possibility of bail is extremely limited, and individuals can be held for long periods without trial. In such cases, the legal process itself becomes a form of punishment.


Meraj has been detained in Rohini Jail in Delhi, far from his home and family in Kashmir. His prolonged detention at a distant location has placed severe emotional and financial strain on his family, who must travel long distances for court hearings and brief prison visits. Each passing day without a fair trial deprives him of his liberty, his career, and his role within his community. The detention of Irfan Meraj is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader pattern in Indian- administered Kashmir, where journalists are increasingly subjected to surveillance, intimidation, and imprisonment for carrying out their professional duties. By targeting journalists, the state seeks to suppress reporting that challenges official narratives and exposes social and humanitarian concerns.


The Journalist Federation of Kashmir has clearly stated that journalism is not a crime. This principle is widely recognized under international norms on freedom of expression. However, Meraj’s case demonstrates how journalism in Kashmir has been criminalized using restrictive laws. His detention sends a clear warning to other journalists that reporting the truth may result in imprisonment. From a human rights perspective, Meraj’s continued detention raises serious concerns regarding the right to liberty, the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial. The absence of a conviction after more than 1,030 days underscores the arbitrary nature of his imprisonment and highlights the misuse of counter-terrorism legislation to silence independent voices.


The silence imposed on Irfan Meraj is not only the silencing of one journalist. It represents the silencing of an entire society’s right to information. His continued detention reflects the suffering of the people of Kashmir, whose voices are systematically suppressed through fear and legal coercion. The case of Irfan Meraj demands urgent attention. His prolonged detention without trial illustrates how law has been used as a tool of repression rather than justice. As long as journalists remain imprisoned for reporting facts, claims of normalcy and democracy in Kashmir remain deeply contested.

Facebook Twitter

Related Detail