Urge India to stop human rights violations in IOK: OIC to UN

Release all political leaders, political prisoners and respect their right to peaceful assembly: IPHRC

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called upon the United Nations to urge the Indian government to immediately lift curfew and end human rights violations in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The IOK has been under curfew and unrest after India stripped the disputed region of its semi-autonomous status by revoking Article 370 of the Indian constitution, paving the way for outsiders to buy land and settle in the occupied valley.

“While welcoming the recent statement of the UN Secretary General on the ongoing situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the  IPHRC calls upon him and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently intervene to urge the Government of India to  immediately lift the curfew in IOK and restore fundamental freedoms and liberties of the Kashmiris,” said the official statement.

The IPHRC demanded UN rights commission to ask India to release all political leaders and other political prisoners and respect their right to peaceful assembly, protest and movement.

"Remove the information and communication blackout and allow freedom of expression and press ensuring reporting of facts and to avoid resorting to violent means including use of any forms of lethal weapons against unarmed demonstrators," said the rights body in a list of demands.