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Khaleej Times
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Police raid Kashmir bookshops after India bans 25 titles for 'secessionism'
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir raided bookshops on Thursday after authorities banned 25 books, including one by Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, saying the titles "excite secessionism" in the contested Muslim-majority region. The raids came after the government accused the writers of propagating "false narratives" about Kashmir, "while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth" against the Indian state. "The operation targeted materials promoting secessionist ideologies or glorifying terrorism," police said in a social media statement. "Public cooperation is solicited to uphold peace and integrity," it said. Authorities also seized Islamic literature from bookshops and homes after a similar directive in February. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency since 1989 against Indian rule of Kashmir, demanding independence or its merger with Pakistan. The order banning the books was issued on Tuesday — the six-year anniversary of New Delhi's imposition of direct rule — although the ban took time to be brought to wider attention. Chief cleric and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the ban "only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions". "Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir," Farooq said on social media platform X. Kashmir elected a new government in November, its first since it was brought under New Delhi's direct control, with voters backing opposition parties to lead its regional assembly. However, the local government has limited powers and the territory continues in practical terms to be governed by a New Delhi-appointed administrator. The ban listed 25 books authorities said "have been identified that propagate false narrative and secessionism", including Roy's 2020 book of essays, "Azadi: Freedom, Fascism, Fiction". Roy, 63, is one of India's most famous living authors but her writing and activism, including her trenchant criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, have made her a polarising figure. Other books banned include titles by academics, including one of India's foremost constitutional experts A.G. Noorani, and Sumantra Bose, who teaches political science at the London School of Economics. Historian Siddiq Wahid said the edict contravenes the constitution, "which allows for the freedoms of speech and expression". "The list of banned books numbers several that are authored and published by individuals and institutions whose reputations depend on supplying evidence, logic and argument towards the conclusions they draw," Wahid told AFP.
Malay Mail
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
India bans 25 books in Kashmir for ‘secessionist' content, including work by Arundhati Roy
SRINAGAR, Aug 7 — Indian authorities in Kashmir have banned 25 books, including a work by Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, saying the titles 'excite secessionism' in the contested Muslim-majority region. The government order accuses the writers of propagating 'false narratives' about Kashmir, 'while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence' against the Indian state. It follows orders in February when authorities seized Islamic literature from bookshops and homes. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency since 1989 against Indian rule of Kashmir, demanding independence or its merger with Pakistan. The order was issued on Tuesday — the six-year anniversary of New Delhi's imposition of direct rule — although the ban took time to be brought to wider attention. Chief cleric and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the ban 'only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions'. 'Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir,' Farooq added. Last November, Kashmir elected its first government since it was brought under New Delhi's direct control, as voters backed opposition parties to lead its regional assembly. But the local government has limited powers and the territory continues, for all practical purposes, to be governed by a New Delhi-appointed administrator. The ban listed 25 books it said 'have been identified that propagate false narrative and secessionism', including Roy's 2020 book of essays, Azadi: Freedom, Fascism, Fiction. Roy, 63, is one of India's most famous living authors, but her writing and activism, including her trenchant criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, has made her a polarising figure at home. Other books banned include titles by academics, including one of India's foremost constitution experts A.G. Noorani, and Sumantra Bose, who teaches political science at the London School of Economics. Historian Siddiq Wahid said the edict contravenes the constitution, 'which allows for the freedoms of speech and expression'. 'The list of banned books numbers several that are authored and published by individuals and institutions whose reputations depend on supplying evidence, logic and argument towards the conclusions they draw,' Wahid told AFP. 'Does that count for anything anymore?' — AFP
Al Arabiya
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
India bans 25 books in Kashmir for ‘secessionism'
Indian authorities in Kashmir have banned 25 books, including a work by Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, saying the titles 'excite secessionism' in the contested Muslim-majority region. The government order accuses the writers of propagating 'false narratives' about Kashmir, 'while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence' against the Indian state. It follows orders in February when authorities seized Islamic literature from bookshops and homes. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency since 1989 against Indian rule of Kashmir, demanding independence or its merger with Pakistan. The order was issued on Tuesday -- the six-year anniversary of New Delhi's imposition of direct rule -- although the ban took time to be brought to wider attention. Chief cleric and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the ban 'only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions.' 'Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir,' Farooq added. Last November, Kashmir elected its first government since it was brought under New Delhi's direct control, as voters backed opposition parties to lead its regional assembly. But the local government has limited powers and the territory continues, for all practical purposes, to be governed by a New Delhi-appointed administrator. The ban listed 25 books it said 'have been identified that propagate false narrative and secessionism', including Roy's 2020 book of essays, 'Azadi: Freedom, Fascism, Fiction.' Roy, 63, is one of India's most famous living authors, but her writing and activism, including her trenchant criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, has made her a polarizing figure at home. Other books banned include titles by academics, including one of India's foremost constitution experts A.G. Noorani, and Sumantra Bose, who teaches political science at the London School of Economics. Historian Siddiq Wahid said the edict contravenes the constitution, 'which allows for the freedoms of speech and expression'. 'The list of banned books numbers several that are authored and published by individuals and institutions whose reputations depend on supplying evidence, logic and argument towards the conclusions they draw,' Wahid told AFP. 'Does that count for anything anymore?'
The National
28-05-2025
- General
- The National
Verdict expected in Paris trial of former Syrian rebel spokesman
A verdict is expected to be issued on Wednesday in the month-long trial of a former spokesman of Syrian rebel group Jaish Al Islam. In his last statement to the jury before it withdrew to deliberate, Majdi Nema, 36, reiterated his innocence but did not address the charges that have been issued against him. He is accused of complicity in the group's war crimes and risks 20 years in prison. Mr Nema, who has spent five years in pretrial detention in France after his arrest in the southern city of Marseille, said he wants to return to his studies. 'I want to return to Syria and work on punishing all those responsible of crimes, whatever their allegiance,' he said, in a reference to Syria's new rulers which have integrated rebel groups like Jaish Al Islam into the Defence Ministry. The recent change in Syrian leadership and the fall of the Assad regime in December after more than five decades at the helm of the country dominated the trial. The prosecution requested that the jury drop charges of complicity in the war crime of enrolment and conscription of minors, which may reduce the sentence by half in the case of conviction. Syrians who testified at the trial said they felt divided over the fate of Mr Nema, who left Jaish Al Islam in 2016. Speaking anonymously out of fear for their safety, one said that he had 'paid enough' by spending five years in pretrial detention and that he cared little if he was released now. Anas Al Kholi, a civil party in the case who was imprisoned by Jaish Al Islam, said that he hoped he would get the maximum sentence because of his prominent role in the group which likely involved information about its crimes. Mr Nema was initially arrested for charges involving the disappearance of four prominent human rights activists who were likely kidnapped by Jaish Al Islam in a Damascus suburb in 2013. Those charges were dropped in 2023, largely for procedural reasons. Syrian activists had hoped that Mr Nema would give information about their fate at the trial, which did not happen. Jaish Al Islam has always rejected accusations of involvement in their disappearance. Relatives, some of whom believe they were killed in captivity, say they have proof that senior officials ordered the kidnapping but that the leadership was informed after it happened.
