An award-winning journalist in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) has finally returned home after spending over five years in jail. Asif Sultan, a reporter with a now-closed magazine, was granted bail in an ongoing terrorism case by a court in the disputed region.
Accused of “harbouring known militants” in August 2018, Sultan faced additional charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) after being implicated in a jail riot. Released briefly in February, he was rearrested two days later on fresh charges. Fortunately, Sultan has been released once again this week, although with strict bail conditions limiting his communication.
The situation for journalists in IoK remains challenging, with media freedoms under threat since the government’s security crackdown in 2019. Independent journalists face arrests, interrogations, and closures of media outlets under anti-terrorism laws.
Despite the harsh circumstances, Sultan’s release represents a small victory for press freedom in the region, where tensions between India and Pakistan continue to flare, and journalists struggle to report independently.