Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj marks 1,000 days jailed

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 December 2025 |  JP Asia Desk

Irfan Mehraj has spent more than 1,000 days in detention under Indian authorities. Advocacy groups highlight his case as a serious issue for press freedom in Kashmir.

Summary

SRINAGAR — Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj has completed more than 1,000 days in detention by Indian authorities, prompting renewed calls from press freedom groups for his immediate release. Advocacy organizations say the prolonged imprisonment highlights mounting risks for journalists working in a region illegally occupied and politically sensitive.

Groups, including the Journalist Federation of Kashmir, have reiterated concerns that Mehraj’s continued detention reflects a broader pattern of legal action being used to restrict independent reporting. They argue that extended incarceration without resolution undermines basic press freedoms and discourages investigative journalism.

Legal action against the media in Kashmir

Mehraj was detained in 2023 under Indian laws that authorities say are necessary for security and public order. Press freedom organizations, however, point to publicly available court records showing repeated delays in legal proceedings, raising questions about due process and proportionality.

Rights groups stress that prolonged pretrial detention can effectively punish journalists before any judicial determination of guilt. They warn that such practices create a climate of fear, particularly for reporters covering governance, human rights, and security-related issues in Kashmir.

Wider press freedom concerns

Mehraj’s case has been cited in international assessments of media freedom in India-administered Kashmir, where journalists face surveillance, questioning, and legal pressure. Media analysts note that high-profile detentions influence newsroom decisions and limit on-the-ground reporting in the region.

Global press freedom organizations continue to monitor similar cases worldwide, describing legal harassment as an increasingly common tool to silence critical journalism. Mehraj’s detention is frequently referenced in these reports as a significant example from South Asia.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on statements and documentation from the Journalist Federation of Kashmir and international press freedom monitoring organizations.

PHOTO: Irfan Mehraj (Facebook)