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Mashaal Malik Appeals to Rahul Gandhi to Intervene in Husband’s Imprisonment Amid Deteriorating Health.
[Islamabad] Mashaal Malik, the wife of Yasin Malik, a prominent leader from Indian-occupied Kashmir, has reached out to Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, urging him to intervene to save her husband’s life.
In her letter, a copy of which has been reviewed by Policy East, Mashaal Malik has called on Gandhi to urgently bring Yasin Malik’s case before Parliament.
Mashaal Malik appeals to Rahul Gandhi for urgent intervention in Yasin Malik’s case.
Mashaal Malik in her four-page English-language letter expressed that Yasin Malik is being “deprived of proper treatment and given medicines harmful to his health.”
She emphasizes his deteriorating health and requests his immediate release. She also urges him to press the Modi government to transfer her husband from jail to an ICU for necessary medical care.
In her letter, Malik highlighted that Yasin Malik is awaiting a fair trial in a three-decade-old treason case, in which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought the death penalty.
She noted that his deteriorating health due to imprisonment is well-documented, with legal records showing he faces inhumane conditions.
Mashaal Malik has appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for immediate intervention, warning that her husband’s life is at risk and urging action to prevent what she describes as his “judicial murder.”
Yasin Malik is on hunger strike since November 2, protesting human rights violations and inadequate medical care.
Mashaal Malik has voiced deep concern over her husband Yasin Malik’s worsening health, warning that his indefinite hunger strike, combined with his existing medical conditions, could prove life-threatening as he continues to be denied proper medical care.
According to Mashaal Malik, “His declining health and hunger strike will only worsen his condition, endangering the life of a man who, after renouncing armed struggle, chose to embrace non-violence.”
She wrote, “I would also like to draw your attention to an article published in a Srinagar newspaper, which reports that a group of Kashmiri Pundits from the valley joined the JKLF protest this week. They marched towards Lal Chowk, raising slogans for Yasin Malik’s release, underscoring that Yasin embodies the true spirit of Kashmirism.”
She noted, “His steadfast commitment to non-violence led the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to invite him on February 17, 2006, to facilitate dialogue between the Government of India and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Yasin Malik, currently held in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, has been on a hunger strike since November 2, protesting human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, his alleged illegal detention, and inadequate medical treatment.
Yasin Malik is a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader who has long been involved in the movement for Kashmiri independence from Indian rule.
He is the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which advocates for an independent Kashmir.
Malik has been a vocal critic of Indian policies in Kashmir, often calling attention to alleged human rights abuses by Indian forces and advocating for Kashmiri self-determination.
He has participated in various peace talks with Indian officials over the years, though these efforts have not led to a resolution.
Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2022 on terrorism-related charges.
In 2019, as part of a broader crackdown on separatist leaders and activists, Malik was arrested by Indian authorities. He was charged under India’s anti-terrorism law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), on accusations of funding terrorism, criminal conspiracy, and sedition, among other charges.
The UAPA remains a significant and controversial law in India, seen as a necessary measure against terrorism by some, but criticized as a tool for political repression by others.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been a significant instrument for the Indian government in dealing with separatist activities in Kashmir, particularly when addressing groups and individuals advocating for Kashmiri independence.
In May 2022, Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Indian court after being convicted on terrorism-related charges.
His detention and sentencing have been widely condemned by human rights organizations and activists, who argue that the charges against him are politically motivated and aim to suppress Kashmiri dissent.
Malik’s imprisonment sparked protests and calls for his release from various international organizations and leaders, who argue that his non-violent approach in recent decades should have been grounds for negotiation rather than incarceration.
The Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India is one of the world’s longest-standing and most contentious geopolitical conflicts, rooted in the partition of British India in 1947.
Since then, Kashmir has been divided by the Line of Control (LoC), with India administering Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh in the south, and Pakistan controlling Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the north.
Both countries claim the region in its entirety, citing historical, religious, and strategic arguments. The dispute has led to several wars and numerous skirmishes and has seen the Kashmir Valley transform into one of the most militarized regions in the world.
The Kashmir dispute remains a contentious geopolitical conflict between India and Pakistan.
For decades, the conflict has fueled nationalism, strained diplomatic relations, and hindered economic cooperation between Pakistan and India. Furthermore, it has led to severe human rights concerns, with both sides facing allegations of repression and abuse in their respective controlled territories.
The unresolved status of Kashmir remains a flashpoint, with both nuclear-armed neighbors viewing it as central to their national identities and security, making any peaceful resolution complex and highly sensitive.
International efforts at mediation have largely been unsuccessful, as both countries insist on direct bilateral negotiations while holding irreconcilable positions on the region’s future.
Arshad Mehmood is a conflict zone journalist with extensive experience covering the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Associated with a prestigious American news agency, The Media Line USA. He is a highly experienced journalist with a proven track record of covering inland and across-the-border terrorism and counter-terrorism narratives and incidents. (https://themedialine.org/) Most of his news stories published in The Media Line are also featured on JPost.com, a major media outlet in the Middle East. He can be reached via @RajaAajtv on social media.
