In his reply, Ambassador of India has assured Chairwoman Hautala that the case of Mr Mian Abdul Qayoom, President of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, shall be handled with due process of law. Ms Hautala wrote to the Ambassador on 10.01.2011 expressing her concern over the situation of Mr Qayoom.[:] 

 
Embassy of India
Chaussee de Vlaurgat 217
1050 Brussels

Dear Ambassador, Dr Bhagwati,

I am writing to you concerning the case of human rights defender Mr Mian Abdul Qayoom, President of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar.

It has come to my attention that Mr Mian Abdul Qayoom was arrested on 30th of November and that he is being held in Hiranagar jail, Kathua district, on charges of sedition. According to information received by my office, this is not the first time Mr Qayoom has been arrested. We understand that prior to this charge, he was arrested under Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act and accused of incitment of war against India.

Recurring arrests and charges against Mr Mian Abdul Qayoom alarm me as all too often I see human rights defenders targeted for their work.

I would wish to meet with you at the earliest opportunity to discuss the situaition and condition of Mr Qayoom and would of course hope in the meanwhile that his treatment while in prison would comply with international human rights norms and that any harrasment against him would be stopped immediately.

I look forward to hearing from you at the earliest opportunity.

Yours,

Heidi Hautala

Chairwoman of European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights