NEW DELHI: India has officially declared the Kashmiri party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) an “unlawful association” and banned it for five years under the country’s anti-terror law.
Interior Minister Amit Shah announced the ban, accusing the outfit of engaging in activities aimed at separating Jammu and Kashmir from India and establishing “Islamic rule.” The decision is part of a broader crackdown on pro-freedom parties in the region.
TeH, founded in 2004 by the late pro-freedom leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, has been accused of spreading anti-India propaganda, promoting secessionism, and fueling anti-national sentiments in Jammu and Kashmir.
The party becomes the fifth pro-freedom group to be banned in the region, following similar actions against Muslim League Jammu Kashmir, Democratic Freedom Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.
The ban reflects the ongoing tensions in the region and the Indian government’s efforts to curb activities it perceives as a threat to national security. Pro-freedom groups, part of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, continue to face restrictions and suppression, leading to concerns about the impact on political dissent and the right to expression in Jammu and Kashmir.
