Remaining prisoners of conscience should be released immediately

Those recently released were among 25 leaders of the APHC detained last September and October under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act(PSA). Amnesty International has regarded the APHC leaders as prisoners of conscience since their detention which followed their call for a boycott of elections.

During their detention the APHC leaders have been denied prompt and regular access to medical attention, family members and lawyers. In the first few weeks of detention, while being shifted from police station to police station, they were held incommunicado.

Amnesty International is particularly concerned that there are many cases of political activists being held for years without recourse to the judicial process. As most people detained under the PSA are denied prompt and regular access to lawyers and family members, they also run a high risk of being subjected to torture or ill-treatment.