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Asif Sultan

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Journalist arrested in Kashmir

Asif Sultan
Occupation(s)Journalist
Narrator
AwardsJohn Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (2019)

Asif Sultan, also known as Aasif Sultan, is a Kashmiri journalist who has been jailed by India since August 2018. On October 17, 2019, Sultan received the annual John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club of America. In April 2022, Aasif was granted bail but not released, instead he was re-arrested and booked under the Public Safety Act.

He was released in May 2024, after receiving bail on three occasions.

History

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2023)

Sultan worked as an assistant editor for the Srinagar-based monthly magazine Kashmir Narrator and covered politics and human rights. His work included reports on on civil unrest in Kashmir, including interviewing alleged members of militant groups. He was arrested on 27 August 2018 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly providing support to militants. Sultan was repeatedly denied bail and his trial only began in June 2019.

Sultan published 'The rise of Burhan Wani', a profile of the Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter in 2016. The story has been linked to his framing in the case. His detention has been criticized internationally, with critics viewing it as a sign of "worsening conditions for the press and citizenry in Kashmir", with Committee to Protect Journalists and various other international organizations demanding his release.

In April 2022, Sultan was granted bail in the UAPA case, with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court noting that "investigative agencies failed to establish his links with any militant group". However, he was not released, and was re-arrested and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA). In December 2023, the High Court quashed his detention under PSA, terming it "illegal and unsustainable".

Despite being granted bail, Sultan was kept in prison until being set free on 29 February 2024. He was re-arrested the very next day, in connection with a 2019 case. On 10 May, he was granted bail, with the judge noting that he was arrested "without any reason or rhyme…he is innocent and has not committed any offence of whatsoever in nature".

Works

Awards

  • John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (2019)

References

  1. Donnelly, John M. (22 August 2019). "National Press Club announces 2019 press freedom honorees". Washington, D.C.: The National Press Club. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. "Aasif Sultan". Committee to Protect Journalism. New York: cpj.org. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ Hilal Mir (27 August 2020). "Activists demand detained Kashmiri journalist's release". Turkey: Anadulu Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  4. "UAPA case against Kashmiri photojournalist for 'anti-national posts'". The Indian Express. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  5. ^ Azaan Javid (24 August 2019). "Jailed Kashmiri journalist who won US media award was arrested after Burhan Wani profile". theprint.in. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  6. Crouch, Erik (11 April 2022). "Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan granted bail, then re-arrested under preventative detention law". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  7. PTI. "Kashmiri journalist arrested for 'providing support to militants' released after 5 years". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  8. Kuchay, Bilal (31 May 2021). "Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan kept in jail for more than 1,000 days". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  9. ^ Masood, Bashaarat (15 May 2024). "Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan, who remained behind bars despite court relief, gets bail". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  10. "Long Walk to Freedom Cut Short: A Chronicle Of Kashmir Journalist Aasif Sultan's Captivity For Over Five Years". article-14.com. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  11. "5 Days after getting bail, Asif Sultan booked under PSA; Shifted to Kot Bhalwal jail".
  12. "Kashmir journalist Asif Sultan gets bail over two months after re-arrest under PSA". Newslaundry. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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