Indian court convicts Hurriyat leader Asiya Andrabi in political case

New Delhi (Web Desk): A Delhi court has issued a verdict in the case against Hurriyat leader and Dukhtar-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, acquitting her of terrorism-related charges while holding her responsible for conspiracy and abetment.

According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS), the court found insufficient evidence to prove allegations of terrorism, terrorist financing, and membership in a banned organization.

Judge Chandrajit Singh stated during the proceedings that the prosecution failed to establish Andrabi’s involvement under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

She was cleared of charges under Section 20 (membership of a terrorist organization), Section 17 (financing terrorism), and Section 121 (waging war against the state), with the court noting the absence of any witness directly linking her to terrorist acts.

Despite this, the court observed that Andrabi’s speeches, interviews, and social media posts indicate a deliberate approach promoting illegal occupation, separatist agendas, and praise for militias, encouraging resistance in Kashmir.

In the same case, Hurriyat leaders Fehmida Sufi and Nahida Nasreen were also found guilty. The court is scheduled to announce the sentences for all the accused on January 17.

The trial, conducted in a special court under India’s National Investigation Agency, has been described by Kashmir Media Service as politically charged, tied to the ongoing situation in the region.

Andrabi, who founded the women’s organization Dukhtar-e-Millat, was taken into custody in April 2018 and has remained imprisoned for nearly eight years.

It is pertinent to mention that Asiya’s husband, Ashiq Hussain, has been in Indian jails for almost three decades in Indian prisons facing various charges.