New Delhi, August 7(KNS): The Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir has strongly condemned the recent notification issued by the Lieutenant-Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, which places 25 books on a forfeited list.

Among the listed publications is a volume co-edited by a member of the Forum. The organization described the move as a clear instance of censorship and suppression of dissent, warning of its broader implications for civil liberties and freedom of expression.

In a formal statement issued to KNS, the Forum linked the timing of the notification to the politically charged anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. That day marked the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and the imposition of wide-ranging restrictions including mass detentions, a communications blackout, and a significant increase in military presence in the region.

Referring to its own sixth report on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir, also released on August 5, the Forum reiterated its concerns over ongoing policies of disempowerment and repression.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe report had warned that peacebuilding opportunities in the region were being undermined by indiscriminate arrests and other violations. The Forum expressed alarm that its concerns are being ignored, and that the new notification further institutionalizes repressive practices.

The organization noted that the order has already led to raids on bookshops across the Union Territory and raised fears that mere possession of the forfeited titles could soon be criminalized. It cautioned that such measures may be used to justify arrests under stringent laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA), citing previous misuse of these laws to target dissenting voices.

The Forum called for the immediate withdrawal of the notification and urged political parties and civil society organizations to speak out. It welcomed the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s condemnation of the move and its demand for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that statehood is essential to safeguard human rights in the region.(KNS).