Press Briefing: Yasin Malik’s Trail and Sentence – Legal Process or Political Agenda? on 03 September 2025 in Brussel.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. We are here to present a concise briefing on Yasin Malik—a Kashmiri political figure who embraced a non violent political struggle in 1994, later became JKLF chair, and since 2019 has faced a cascade of prosecutions under India’s security and criminal laws.
Yasin Malik, Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), is serving two life sentences in India’s Tihar Jail. His case has become a focal point of international concern due to allegations of politically motivated prosecution, denial of fair trial rights, and deteriorating health conditions. Malik, once a militant, renounced violence in 1994 and adopted Gandhian non-violence, becoming a key advocate for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict.
Key Developments
- Arrest and Charges: Malik was arrested on 22 February 2019 under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and later charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He was convicted on 19 May 2022 and sentenced to two life terms and two 10-year sentences in a fabricated terror funding case.
- Death Penalty Appeal: India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has appealed to escalate Malik’s sentence to the death penalty. The appeal was accepted for hearing after a year violating the statutory requirement of 90 days. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the case on 10 November 2025.
- Health Crisis: Malik suffers from serious health conditions including aortic valve replacement, renal issues, and facial nerve paralysis. He has been in solitary confinement since 2019; he had to resort to a hunger strike in November 2024 to protest denial of medical care.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
- Due Process Violations: Malik’s trial was conducted without legal representation. His alleged guilty plea was not supported by a signed affidavit. Revival of 30-year-old cases under lapsed laws like TADA raises serious concerns about judicial fairness.
- Political Motivation: The BJP/RSS government is targeting Malik to eliminate a credible, non-violent voice advocating Kashmiri self-determination. The JKLF was banned in 2019, and Malik’s prosecution is seen as part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent.
- Fabricated Evidence: Yasin Malik’s case was not supported by credible evidence, it was brief, he was not represented and was not allowed to speak in his defense. NIA has also revived 30 years old dormant cases. Investigative journalists have highlighted inconsistencies and potential fabrication in the prosecution’s narrative.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Yasin Malik’s trial and incarceration raise profound questions about the rule of law, judicial independence, and political repression in India. The push for a death sentence, despite procedural irregularities and health risks, appears to be a politically motivated act of judicial overreach.
We call upon:
- The United Nations, European Union, UK, US, and OIC to demand fair trial guarantees, independent access to medical care and a judicial review of his case.
- Civil society, human rights defenders and the Journalists to amplify Malik’s case and advocate for his release.
- Indian judiciary to uphold constitutional and international standards of justice.
Bibliography & References
- Yasin Malik’s Trial: Battle Between Justice and Political Agendas – Kashmir Times
- Yasin Malik put on IV fluids in Tihar jail as his health deteriorates – Sabah News
- Yasin Malik: From Gun to Peace – Why India Must Reconsider – Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani
- Prem Shankar Jha – Trial Analysis of Yasin Malik – Article 949
- Kashmiris across Europe reject Yasin Malik’s farcical sentencing – The Express Tribune
Prepared by: Ishtiaq Khaliq and Zaheer Zahid, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Europe Zone
