Kashmiris knock UN rights office in Geneva

Geneva (PNI) Amid graveyard silence imposed by India in occupied Kashmir, the streets of Geneva, home to UN’s top human rights office, were occupied by activists on Friday seeking attention to the world’s largest open-air prison.

Led by Altaf Hussain Wani , Fahim Kayani and Asif Jarral the Kashmiri leaders joined by their global allies and supporters, held demonstrations outside the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva seeking end to military occupation of Kashmir by India.

The joint pro-Kashmir demonstration was organized by Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe , Kashmir delegation to Geneva as well Jammu Kashmir Democratic Forum France.

Wani, who heads Kashmir Delegation to Geneva, reminded the world’s top human rights body of its responsibility on Kashmir.

“The UN is embodiment of aspirations of millions of Kashmiris who have been promised a right to decide their political future,” said Wani, a native of Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“But India has turned Kashmir into world’s largest open-air prison and is brazenly violating human rights of Kashmiris which demands attention of the UN human rights council,” said Wani.

Fahim Kayani, prominent Kashmiri diaspora activist and leader of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, said time was ripe that illegal occupation of Kashmir by India was ended.
“There is a global movement towards de-colonization and Kashmiris need to grasp this opportunity to press international community towards realization of right to self-determination,” Kayani said.

At the moment, Kayani said, “the ongoing session of UN human rights council must table a special proposal on Kashmir to bring to justice Indian war criminals including its marauding troops.”

Kayani reminded the council that a court in the UK has issued arrest warrants against Indian Hindu-radical Prime Minister Modi and his allied officials.

“Justice cannot be divided into specific spheres nor can justice be seen as privilege of few,” said Kayani, stressing Kashmiris were equal to other nations around the world.

Emphasizing need for international accountability of Indian rogue regime ked by Modi, Kayani recalled how New Delhi was engaged in extra-territorial murders including one in Canada.

“India cannot be given a free pass,” Kayani said, addressing the UN Human rights council. “You can let innocents die and turn your eyes away.”

Faiz Ahmed Naqshbandi, Amjad Yousaf, Pervez Advocate, Hasan ul Banna , Attiq Zubair and others also addressed the demonstrators, urging the world body to take cognizance of beleaguered Kashmiris.

Referring to illegal arrests and abductions by Indian forces in Kashmir, they sought urgent attention towards the jailed Kashmiri political prisoners.

“Kashmiri political prisoners face critical situation in Indian jails,” they said, referring to Masarat Alam Bhat, Asiya Andrabi, Nahida Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah.

“They are suffering various ailments and must be released on urgent basis,” they said, urging attention by international community.

Kashmir is world’s largest open-air prison where India has deployed over a million forces, against international law since the United Nations has declared the region as a disputed territory.

India has been regularly blocking any attempt to hold free and fair plebiscite as declared by the UN, this challenging international law and conventions which must be condemned and New Delhi held accountable.