World must prevent impending genocide of Kashmiris: PM Imran

Premier says Kashmiris living under brutal Indian occupation are deprived of all fundamental rights and freedoms

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued yet another call to the international community for efforts to prevent "an impending genocide of Kashmiris" in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The premier tweeted on Thursday morning to mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.

PM forewarns world against ‘Srebrenica-type massacre’ in IOK

He called for attention to the "plight of millions of Kashmiris living under brutal Indian occupation, abuse and violence, deprived of all fundamental rights & freedom."

Today, on the 1st International Day for Victims of Violence based on Religion or Belief, we call attention to the plight of millions of Kashmiris living under brutal Indian Occupation, abuse & violence, deprived of all fundamental rights & freedoms.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 22, 2019

He said the Indian occupation forces have trampled upon the rights of Kashmiris to "observe their religious practices, including Eidul Azha".

PM Imran urged the world to act with urgency "to prevent an impending genocide of Kashmiris in IOK".

The Indian Occupation Forces have even denied them their right to observe their religious practices, including Eid ul Azha.
As the world shows solidarity for victims of violence based on religion & belief, it must also move to prevent an impending genocide of Kashmiris in IOK.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 22, 2019

Earlier, PM Imran sought to nudge the international community into action saying that “severe repercussions and reactions” would ensue if it “silently witness(es) another Srebrenica-type massacre & ethnic cleansing of Muslims in IOK”.

“Will [the] world silently witness another Srebrenica-type massacre & ethnic cleansing of Muslims in IOK? I want to warn international community if it allows this to happen, it will have severe repercussions & reactions in the Muslim world setting off radicalisation & cycles of violence,” Imran wrote in a tweet earlier this month.

The premier was referring to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre – also known as the Srebrenica genocide – in which thousands of Bosniaks had been killed by Serb military and paramilitary forces in and around the town of Srebrenica during the Bosnian war.

The United Nations has declared August 22 as the ‘International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief’.

"On this day, we reaffirm our unwavering support for the victims of violence based on religion and belief. And we demonstrate that support by doing all in our power to prevent such attacks and demanding that those responsible are held accountable," said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.