LONDON (Kashmir English): Speakers at a conference in the British Parliament expressed serious concern over the human rights situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
They also condemned the victimization of incarcerated Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yasin Malik and other Kashmiri political leaders by Indian authorities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the conference titled “Justice for Yasin Malik Conference” was organized by JKLF. The event was chaired by MP Imran Hussain, the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir, and hosted by MP Richard Burgon with support from UK-based JKLF leader Amjad Nawaz. Many MP’s, Councilors, Kashmiri diaspora representatives, leaders and scholars participated in the event.
In a statement issued by the JKLF chief spokesperson in Islamabad, it was said that the conference was held against the backdrop of an ongoing court hearing related to the death penalty case against Muhammad Yasin Malik at the Delhi High Court.
Besides JKLF leaders, several British MPs and political figures including Lord Qurban Hussain, Stephen Tims, Afzal Khan, Tamanjeet Singh, Yasmin Qureshi, Joshwa Renalds (Josh Babranda), as well as Kashmiri representatives and scholar Dr. Sarena Hussain, addressed the gathering. Razia Sultana, daughter of jailed Yasin Malik, also delivered and emotional online speech from Islamabad.
Worsening HR situation in occupied Kashmir
The speakers expressed serious concerns over the worsening human rights situation in occupied Kashmir and highlighted the continued incarceration of pro-freedom Kashmiri political leaders, including Muhammad Yasin Malik, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Saleem Nanaji, Farooq A.
Dar, Nazir A. Sheikh and others, who have been languishing in Indian jails for years together in concocted and politically motivated cases filed against them by Indian government agencies.
They urged the British government to intervene and press India for the immediate and unconditional release all detained pro-freedom Kashmiri political leaders.
Lawmakers at the conference referred to Yasin Malik’s case as an eye opener for human rights defenders, terming him the worst victim of political vendetta under the Narendar Modi-led Hindutva government of India.
