LONDON: Kashmiris, Pakistanis and their allies held protest demonstrations outside Indian missions in the United Kingdom and Europe to mark 76 years of illegal Indian occupation of Kashmir by India.
Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK led the protests and digital campaign across the region, reminding the international community to wake up to realities of the time.
Protestors raised pro-Kashmir and pro-freedom slogans outside the Indian missions to send a message that no military might of India can suppress Kashmiris from getting their birthright.
It was on October 27 in 1947 that India invaded and occupied the United Nations-designated disputed territory.
The President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir, UK, Fahim Kayani, told a demonstration in Oslo that it was the right time that the UN and the international community open eyes and give Kashmiris their right i.e. a free and fair plebiscite.
Warning against delay in implementing UN resolutions on Kashmir, he said: “What is happening in Gaza today is the result of the same delaying tactics in upholding international law and the UN Charter on Palestine.”
Addressing a demonstration outside the Indian mission in Oslo, Kayani said: “Nazi-inspired Hindutva regime in New Delhi has gone rogue and is committing crimes against humanity in western capitals. The western capitals must wake up early to the threat India poses to them and their citizens.”
“I fear if the case of Kashmir is delayed like this, it will invite a nuclear crisis,” said Kayani, urging immediate attention to the worsening rights situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to the call of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, demonstrations were held in Glasgow, Dundee, Nelson, Birmingham, Como, Luton and Manchester.
Shah Hussain, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir, Norway, and Rafqat Ali General Secretary led the protest in Oslo.
Tehreek-e-Kashmir leadership Muhammad Hanif Raja, Shah Hussain, Rafaqat Ali, Chaudhry Fakhr Iqbal Sahib, Chaudhry Yasin, Chaudhry Ikramul Haque, Chaudhry Nasr Iqba, Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Syed Tufail Hussain Shah, Shukat Sultan and Chaudhry Nasr Iqbal , led protests in their respective cities and towns.
‘Kashmiris struggling for their right to self-determination’
Speakers of the Kashmir Conference held in the city of Dallas, Texas, in connection with the Kashmir Black Day, said that October 27, 1947 was the blackest day in human history when India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and since that day till today the Indian troops were maintaining its oppressive occupation of the territory.
Terry Miz, the representative member of the state of Texas, was the chief guest at the Kashmir Conference organized by “Friends of Kashmir”.
She in her speech said America believes in the supremacy of human rights. Kashmiris are struggling for their birthright to self-determination and any kind of coercion and violence against them is not acceptable.
Well-known social leader Abdul Hafeez Khan, while addressing the event, said it is the fundamental right of every nation to struggle for its freedom and all people who believe in human rights should raise their voice for the struggle of Kashmiris.
Ghazala Habib, the founder chairperson of Friends of Kashmir, said Kashmiris have been struggling to get rid of India’s occupation for the past 76 years and demanded of the United Nations to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination, which the United Nations has granted. They have been promised and more than 18 resolutions have been approved in this regard, she added.
In the ceremony, the Deputy Consul General of the Pakistani Consulate in Houston Ashar Shahzad said the Pakistani people and government stand by the Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom and Pakistan will continue its moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris at all levels.
Renowned poet Yunus Ejaz presented his speech regarding Kashmir and Talat Khan shed light on the history of Kashmir.
A special delegation of Sikhs for Justice also participated in the event. Sikh leaders Gurvinder Singh and Surinder Singh said India cannot suppress the freedom spirit of Kashmiris and Sikhs with its nefarious tactics.
