Asif Sultan Explained

Asif Sultan
Occupation:Journalist
Narrator
Awards:John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (2019)[1]

Asif Sultan, also known as Aasif Sultan, is a Kashmiri journalist who has been jailed by India since August 2018.[2] [3] [4] On October 17, 2019, Sultan received the annual John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club of America.[5] In April 2022, Aasif was granted bail but not released, instead he was re-arrested and booked under the Public Safety Act.[6]

He was released in May 2024, after receiving bail on three occasions.[7]

History

Sultan worked as an assistant editor for the Srinagar-based monthly magazine Kashmir Narrator and covered politics and human rights.[3] 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.[3] [8] Sultan was repeatedly denied bail and his trial only began in June 2019.[3]

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.[9] 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.[10]

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).[11] 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".[12]

Works

Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: National Press Club announces 2019 press freedom honorees. The National Press Club. Washington, D.C.. Donnelly, John M.. 22 August 2019. 10 May 2021.
  2. News: Aasif Sultan. cpj.org. 10 May 2021. Committee to Protect Journalism. New York.
  3. News: Activists demand detained Kashmiri journalist's release. Anadulu Agency. Turkey. Hilal Mir. 27 August 2020. 10 May 2021.
  4. Web site: 2020-04-20. UAPA case against Kashmiri photojournalist for 'anti-national posts'. 2021-05-12. The Indian Express. en.
  5. News: Jailed Kashmiri journalist who won US media award was arrested after Burhan Wani profile. theprint.in. Azaan Javid. 24 August 2019. 10 May 2021.
  6. Web site: Crouch . Erik . 2022-04-11 . Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan granted bail, then re-arrested under preventative detention law . 2023-08-27 . Committee to Protect Journalists . en-US.
  7. Web site: PTI . Kashmiri journalist arrested for 'providing support to militants' released after 5 years . 2024-03-02 . Deccan Herald . en.
  8. Web site: Kuchay. Bilal. 2021-05-31. Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan kept in jail for more than 1,000 days. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210702153612/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/31/kashmiri-journalist-aasif-sultan-kept-in-jail-for-over-1000-days. 2021-07-02. 2021-07-06. Al Jazeera. en.
  9. Web site: Masood . Bashaarat . 2024-05-15 . Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan, who remained behind bars despite court relief, gets bail . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515122452/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmiri-journalist-asif-sultan-remained-behind-bars-court-relief-bail-9330898/ . 2024-05-15 . 2024-05-24 . . en.
  10. Web site: 2024-04-15 . Long Walk to Freedom Cut Short: A Chronicle Of Kashmir Journalist Aasif Sultan’s Captivity For Over Five Years . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416003609/https://article-14.com/post/long-walk-to-freedom-cut-short-a-chronicle-of-kashmir-journalist-aasif-sultan-s-captivity-for-over-five-years--661c9bf110cca . 2024-04-16 . 2024-05-24 . article-14.com.
  11. News: 5 Days after getting bail, Asif Sultan booked under PSA; Shifted to Kot Bhalwal jail .
  12. Web site: 2024-05-15 . Kashmir journalist Asif Sultan gets bail over two months after re-arrest under PSA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515103845/https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/05/15/kashmir-journalist-aasif-sultan-gets-bail-over-two-months-after-re-arrest-under-psa . 2024-05-15 . 2024-05-24 . . en.

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