DeM denounces denial of medical, other facilities to Aasiyeh

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, September 30 (KNO) : Dukhtaran-e-Millat on Sunday denounced the ‘denial’ of medical and other basic facilities to its chairperson, Syedah Aasiyeh Andrabi, by the jail authorities in Tihar. In a statement issued to (KNO), DeM spokesperson, Rifat Fatima, said that “the deliberate denial of facilities to the party chairperson has critically affected her health.”

“DeM chief was suffering from multiple ailments before she was taken to Delhi. All her ailments have aggravated now as she is being denied medical supplies and other basic facilities inside the Tihar jail,” she said. Rifat said that “apart from other life threatening ailments, Andrabi was suffering from cervical spondylitis.

This has taken a serious toll on her health as she has been denied matting inside the jail.” Rifat said that recently a court in New Delhi had directed the jail authorities to provide a bed to the ailing Andrabi. “The jail authorities, however, rejected court direction saying that a ‘bed wasn’t necessary as far as this health issue is concerned’,” she added. Rifat said that without matting, Andrabi’s condition has deteriorated to a critical level. “Further, the food provided is of pathetic quality and also the denial of much needed medicines puts the life of DeM chief at a grave danger,” she added. She said that other party leaders including Nahida Nasreen and Sofi Fehmeeda too are suffering from bone and joint problems and other health issues.Rifat reiterated her appeal to world Human Rights organizations and the Muslim Ummah to take a serious cognizance of this issue.

“Isn’t it a cause of concern for all these organisations in general and the Muslim Ummah in particular that a woman leader is slowly put to death by denying her the necessary medical and other facilities,” she added. “Why is she being made to suffer so much? Is it only because she, as a leader, is asking for the genuine rights of her oppressed people who have been under illegal occupation since past 7 decades,” she added.“Maintaining a criminal silence over this oppression on a 55-year-old woman is regrettable. These HR organisations especially the Amnesty International must take a strong notice and must pressurize the Indian government to release her,” Rifat added. She said that if anything happens to the ailing woman leader inside the jail, it would be the responsibility of Indian government and of these HR organisations, who have maintained a criminal silence on this issue.(KNO)