Valley scribes condemn photographer’s detention

Srinagar, February 20

The Kashmir Working Journalists’ Association today condemned the continuous incarceration of photojournalist Kamran Yousuf who has been held in detention for the past 169 days.

Kamran has been victimised only for carrying out his professional duties that somehow embarrassed the government, the association alleged in a statement issued here.

It alleged that Kamran’s arrest and framing were aimed only at muzzling the press in Kashmir and that all charges against him were baseless and motivated. The association has also expressed anger over the efforts of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to define the working of a journalist. “The pathetic standards of journalism that the NIA aims to thrust are not just childishly naive but also reflect a dangerous conspiracy to disempower the fourth estate,” it added.

The association contested the NIA’s definition of journalism and affirmed that it was not the job of a journalist to cover bridge inaugurations or birthday parties of government and political functionaries. “If the NIA does not understand the basics that separate public relations from journalism, it puts its own investigating capabilities into question,” it added.

The KWJA said the NIA should desist from delivering lectures on journalism.

It said that the journalistic fraternity in Kashmir has failed to stand up for Kamran since his arrest on September 5 last year, leave alone strive for his release.

“We also take this moment to reflect on the larger tragedy of journalism in Kashmir exposed by the arrest of Kamran. More than the government or investigation agencies Kamran, a young journalist, have been failed by the fraternity, all of us together,” the KWJA said. — TNS