Srinagar, February 25 : The Civil Society of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has written to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) chief, highlighting the deteriorating health of jailed Hurriyat leader Mushtaqul Islam, who has lost his sight due to alleged medical negligence in Kothbalwal Jail, Jammu.
Mushtaqul Islam, 64, founder of Jammu Kashmir Muslim League, has been detained since 2024 and is facing mental torture and cruel treatment. The civil society group said that jailed Mushtaqul Islam's health has worsened due to lack of proper medical care, citing reports of high blood sugar levels, deteriorating eyesight, and general weakness. The group has urged the UNHRC to intervene, citing violations of international human rights standards and laws.
Here is the text of the letter:
UN Human Rights Chief
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
February 2026
Excellency,
We have the honor to address you in our capacity as [ representatives of the Civil Society of IIOJK], pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution [relevant resolution], to bring to the attention of your Excellency's UN Special Rapporteur the case of Kashmiri jailed Hurriyat leader Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, alias Mushtaqul Islam, aged 64, who is being detained in Kothbalwal Jail, Jammu, in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, since 2024.
Mr. Mushtaqul Islam is the founder of the Jammu Kashmir Muslim League and an outspoken critic of political injustice and human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. He has been arrested multiple times since 1992 and has been placed under house arrest several times in his house in Batamaloo, Srinagar.
The jailed leader has filed a petition challenging the lawfulness of his detention, saying that the detention conditions imposed on him are due to political pressure and are intended to psychologically torture him. He has been consistently denied access to adequate medical care. Although he was examined by government-appointed doctors (whose neutrality, quality, and impartiality are questioned) for dental issues, shoulder pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, and gastrointestinal concerns, he could not consult with any good physicians and/or independent specialists.
In November 2025, senior leader Mushtaq-ul-Islam, who has been detained for an extended period in Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu, was admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu after his health deteriorated, reportedly caused by prolonged medical negligence in custody. He has been experiencing high blood sugar levels, deteriorating eyesight, and general weakness, which led to his transfer to the hospital in Jammu.
Reports from within jails in IIOJK indicate that the prison lacks qualified physicians and specialist doctors, a situation that has contributed to the worsening health conditions of detainees. Medical care is being deliberately withheld from inmates, raising serious concerns about human rights violations. Authorities are denying inmates basic medical and legal facilities, which has resulted in severe health complications and, in some cases, deaths in custody.
Reportedly, the leader has lost sight in one eye, and the other eye is also affected. It has been asserted that certain conditions of detention are specifically imposed to exert physical and psychological pressure on the political prisoner to silence his criticism of injustice.
The requirement of humane and dignified treatment in detention, protected by Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Articles 7 and 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is the responsibility of the government to uphold, in accordance with norms of international law. All detainees shall be treated with dignity and humanity and without prejudice to their political or other views.
We urge your intervention in this matter and request that the UNHRC takes necessary actions to ensure the release of Mushtaqul Islam and other detainees including APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Bhat, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nahida Nasreen, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Aijaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Shahidul Islam and others, languishing in different jails and their rights must be protected and to receive adequate medical care. Source KMS
Sincerely,
Dr Zubair Ahmed Raja, Muhammad Furhan, Muhammad Iqbal Shaheen and Syed Haider Hussain
(Civil Society of IIOJK)