Kashmir’s Shabir Shah Faces Cancer Battle Alone in Tihar Jail

SRINAGAR, Kashmir – Shabir Shah, a prominent Kashmiri pro-freedom leader and prisoner in India’s Tihar Jail, is battling prostate cancer under dire circumstances, sparking widespread concern in the region. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has urged Indian authorities to allow Shah’s family to be present during his critical treatment on humanitarian grounds.
In a statement shared on X, Mufti described Shah’s deteriorating condition, saying, “Shabir Shah, imprisoned in Tihar since 2017, urgently requires surgery for prostate cancer. It is deeply unfortunate that the courts have denied his family the right to be with him during his treatment.”
She appealed to India’s Home Secretary for immediate intervention, emphasizing the need for compassion in addressing this issue.

No Contact, No Support

A report by the Hindustan Times highlights the isolation faced by Shah, who has been denied regular contact with his family. Sources close to his family revealed that he has not had a phone call with them in over two years, relying on sporadic and infrequent visits to learn about their well-being.
The family was made aware of his health crisis through another inmate’s relative, underscoring the lack of transparency about Shah’s condition. Doctors attending to him have recommended urgent surgery, but Shah is reportedly hesitant to proceed without a family member by his side.
“This is not just about medical care but also about basic human dignity,” said a family member. “Even in his gravest moments, he is deprived of the emotional support he deserves.”

A Long Incarceration

Shabir Shah has spent more than three decades of his life intermittently in various prisons.
In Kashmir, Shah is seen as a symbol of the decades-long struggle for self-determination. His supporters believe his imprisonment and the treatment he is receiving are part of a larger pattern of targeting pro-freedom voices.

A Call for Humanity

The plight of Shah has amplified calls for a more humane approach to political prisoners in India. Mehbooba Mufti’s appeal resonates deeply with many Kashmiris who see Shah’s suffering as emblematic of their broader struggle under occupation.
“Granting his family the right to be with him during this critical phase is the least that can be done,” Mufti said. “It’s a matter of humanity, beyond politics or ideology.”

Kashmiri political and religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has joined the call for urgent humanitarian intervention, highlighting the human cost of prolonged imprisonment.

Mirwaiz expressed deep concern over Shah’s deteriorating condition, saying, “Reports of Shabir Shah Sahab’s serious health condition in Tihar Jail, and denial of access to his family members to talk to him on phone for the past two years, or care for him when he is facing such a medical emergency and is in dire need of a surgery, is very unfortunate and disturbing.”

He revealed that Shah’s wife informed him about the rejection of a bail plea filed on medical grounds. “She does not know how to help him,” Mirwaiz added, calling the situation emblematic of the suffering endured by many Kashmiri political prisoners.

Mirwaiz lamented the condition of other Kashmiri political prisoners, saying, “Prolonged imprisonment, devoid of due legal process, has made the process their punishment. It is against the very idea that the Indian legal system claims to uphold — the basic human rights of the prisoners, violating the very idea of human dignity, due process, and justice.”

The Kashmiri leader’s battle with cancer, unfolding in the isolation of Tihar Jail, reflects not only his personal ordeal but also the enduring hardships faced by those advocating for Kashmir’s freedom.