Life Sentence handed to Kashmiri Leader Asiya Andrabi in Sham Anti-Terror Case
2026-03-24 - 13:30
NEW DELHI – A special court in New Delhi delivered dramatic and controversial verdict that has sent shockwaves through legal and political circles, sentencing Kashmiri women’s rights figure Asiya Andrabi to three life terms, while her close associates Nahida Nasreen and Sofi Fehmeeda were handed lengthy sentences of 30 years each in the same case. The ruling comes after years of prosecution under India’s stringent anti-terror laws and has intensified debate over the use of such legislation against political activists. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh announced verdict on charges which pressed for harshest possible punishment. Prosecutors invoked the need for deterrence and emphasized the “collective conscience of society,” arguments that the court largely accepted in issuing its sentence. The foundation of convictions themselves drawn major scrutiny. The same court acquitted accused of most severe charges, including allegations of waging war against the state, funding terrorism, and being members of a terrorist organization. Instead, the convictions were limited to charges relating to conspiracy, association, and expression. During trial, the defense strongly contested prosecution’s case, arguing that no tangible harm or direct consequence had been demonstrated as a result of the accused’s actions. Notably, no Kashmiri civilian appeared in court to testify that they had been adversely affected by the women. The defense urged the court to consider the nearly eight years already served as sufficient punishment, but this plea was rejected. The sentencing is said to make sure that 64-year-old Andrabi will spend the remainder of her life behind bars. She suffers from multiple health conditions, including diabetes, and asthma. Her co-accused, Nahida Nasreen, 58, and Sofi Fehmeeda, in her thirties, face similarly severe outcomes; Fehmeeda has reportedly been denied spinal surgery she requires, raising further concerns about her long-term health in custody. For the unversed, Andrabi founded Dukhtaran-e-Millat in 1987 and has been engaged in organizing religious education programs for women, supporting widows and orphans, and campaigning against drug abuse among youth. She has also been a vocal advocate for Kashmiri self-determination, a position referenced in international legal and political discussions. Over the years, she has spent more than 15 years in detention, much of it without conviction. Her husband is also serving a life sentence and has been imprisoned for over three decades. The case is expected to move to the Delhi High Court on appeal, where the defense will challenge both the convictions and the severity of the punishment. international human rights organizations long raised concerns about the legal framework under which the women were prosecuted, describing it as overly broad and prone to misuse in cases involving political dissent. A United Nations human rights body has also urged India to review and amend the law. Indian court convicts Asiya Andrabi, two other Kashmiri activists