Move beyond hollow claims on press freedom: KWJA

Kashmir Working Journalists Association (KWJA) on Friday noted with dismay that despite pleas for an enabling environment for media, J&K Police have not withdrawn the latest cases against three journalists in Kashmir.

“We strongly condemn and protest the continued harassment of journalists in Kashmir at the hands of police and reiterate our demand that cases against journalists Gowhar Geelani, Masrat Zehra and Peerzada Ashiq should be withdrawn immediately,” said KWJA, in a statement.

It said KWJA was also surprised at “claims of respect for press freedom from some officials when a systemic repression of media houses and arm twisting of journalists has by now been entrenched as a governance policy to curtail larger freedoms and rights of people.”