Anti-India demo outside UNHRC headquarters in Geneva

Tehreek-e-Kashmir Switzerland organized a protest demonstration outside the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, against the human rights abuses by India in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora community, social and political workers, and human rights activists joined the protest to expose the Indian violations of all international norms and human rights in IIOJK. The protesters were holding banners carrying pictures of veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani, and slogans denouncing his forced burial by the Indian authorities in IIOJK. The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement Altaf Ahmed Butt, President Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK Fahim Kayani, and President Tehreek-e-Kashmir Italy Mehmood Sharif addressed the protesters.

Altaf Ahmed Butt addressing through video link from Islamabad said the Indian aggression since 1947 has inflicted great pain to the Kashmiris. We have lost hundreds of thousands of people, women have been raped, houses demolished, businesses destroyed and education disturbed, he said.

Modi-led BJP government in India not only scrapped articles 370 and 35A but it also preplanned the financial and economic breakdown of Kashmir, an act aimed at breaking the will of Kashmiris for demanding right to self-determination as per the UN resolutions, Altaf Butt added.

The JKSM Chairman further said while the real Hurriyat leaders are languishing in different jails, Indian occupational forces are engaged in the targeted killing of Kashmiri youth, demolition of residential houses during fake encounters and slapping the journalists with black laws to curb the voice of voiceless people.

Altaf Butt while paying glowing tributes to veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani said that Indian fascist authorities forced his burial without the family members, and did not fulfill his last wish while his family is now being hounded and facing charges under draconian law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He also condemned the custodial killing of senior Hurriyat leader, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, on 5th May 2021, and demanded an impartial investigation into the matter.

Draconian laws such as Public Safety Act (PSA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) are used to suppress the Kashmiris’ voice for freedom, he deplored.

President Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, Fahim Kayani, while addressing the protesters said Syed Ali Gilani’s forced burial by Indian authorities is an undemocratic and shameful act. They even feared the dead Syed Ali Gilani, not letting the family members fulfill his last wishes, he added.

“The grave human rights violations perpetrated by India since 1989 tell us about the illegal occupation of Kashmir. Almost 100,000 people who lost their lives to Indian aggression still await justice. The victims of mass rapes such as the Kunanposhpora tragedy still await justice for what Indian occupational forces have done to them,” Fahim Kayani added.

He further added it is high time that India through diplomatic pressure at the UN must be forced to conduct a “free and impartial referendum” under the auspices of the United Nations to determine the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, uphold and respect the democratic verdict of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, end violence and release all political prisoners and punish the perpetrators of crimes in IIOJK.

President Tehreek-e-Kashmir Italy, Mehmood Sharif, said the Kashmir dispute may lead to a war between two nuclear powers – India and Pakistan – who have previously fought three wars. India has been committing human rights violations in IIOJK since its illegal occupation. While the occupation authorities impose curfews on religious occasions, they most recently initiated demographic change, a violation of International Law, aimed at allowing non-resident hardcore Hindu’s to settle down and purchase lands in Kashmir, he deplored.

Ejaz Ahmed Tahir Chaudhry, President Tehreek-e-Kashmir Switzerland in his speech said Kashmir cause is alive and vibrant, we will keep it alive internationally until Kashmir dispute is settled as per the Kashmiris’ aspirations and the UN resolutions.

Nasir Shehzad, former President Tehreek-e-Kashmir Spain; Asif Rehman, Secretary General Tehreek-e-Kashmir Spain; Raja Saeed, World Muslim Congress; Babar Waraich, Vice President Tehreek-e-Kashmir Italy; Jamshed Iqbal, Secretary General Tehreek-e-Kashmir Italy; Tanver Kadar, Qaiser Hayat Tarrar, Sajad Mehr, Qamar Riaz Khan and Raja Waseem also spoke on the occasion. They denounced Indian aggression and human rights violations in IIOJK. They also demanded of the UNHRC to put pressure on New Delhi to respect the UN resolutions.