The United Nations human rights experts have voiced their concern over India’s decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status and enact laws that could curtail the political participation of Muslims and other minorities.

The concern was raised by five UN special rapporteurs for minority issues, freedom of expression and assembly in a letter to the Indian government on 10th of February and the UN has made this letter public.

They said Kashmiris and other minorities faced reduced levels of political representation and participation due to the abolishment of the regional government and its power to legislate.

The UN experts also expressed concerns on the ongoing internet shutdowns, restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, as well as the reported pattern of detentions and harassment of journalists and human rights defenders.

They also voiced concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir, and violations of India’s minorities' rights, particularly Kashmiri Muslims.

The rapporteurs said, the new citizenship law “may cause demographic changes” and “risks undermining the linguistic and cultural rights and the freedom of religion or belief of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.