India’s terror law, with only 2% convictions, ‘framing innocents’

Critics say UAPA being used as ‘political weapon to silence voices’ and to ‘demonise Muslims, Kashmiris as terrorists’.

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – When a court in India’s metropolis of Mumbai acquitted Mohammad Irfan of “terrorism” and other charges on June 15, he did not know how to react and became numb in his seat. The 33 year old and his family, residents of Nanded in the western state of Maharashtra, had waited for the moment for nine years. “I couldn’t move from my seat for some time when the court acquitted me … Finally, the terrorist tag was gone,” he told Al Jazeera.