Hundreds protest in London to mark Burhan Wani’s martyrdom anniversary

July 8 is celebrated as ‘Resistance Day’ to seek world’s attention against rising human rights violations in IOJ&K

LONDON:

Hundreds of British Kashmiris and Pakistanis on Wednesday staged a protest in front of Indian High Commission in London to mark fourth martyrdom anniversary of prominent Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani.

British Kashmiris observe July 8 as “Resistance Day” to seek world’s attention against rising human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

The protesters, while following the coronavirus SOPs set by the United Kingdom government, shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans like “stop genocide in Kashmir”.

Addressing the protesters, Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK President Raja Fahim Kayani said the international community must play its role and put pressure on India for lifting the inhuman restrictions imposed in IOJ&K since August 5, 2019.

Kayani said the time has come to impose economic sanctions on India as it has violated the universal declaration of human rights and the UN Security Council resolutions on Occupied Kashmir.

The TeK UK president raised the question as to why India was not permitting foreign observers to visit the occupied valley, saying, “if everything is normal then Delhi has nothing to hide to the world”. He said innocent Kashmiris were suffering under a brutal lockdown for over 11 months, which has been designed to target women, children and the vulnerable. They have been deprived of their basic human rights, he maintained.

British Kashmiris and Pakistanis stage protest in front of Indian High Commission in London to mark fourth martyrdom anniversary of prominent Kashmiri leader #BurhanWani pic.twitter.com/gFtzm0w918

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) July 8, 2020

Raja Sikandar Khan, chairman of Global Kashmir & Pakistan Council, said that through the protest before Indian High Commission we want to show our support and express solidarity with the people of Occupied Kashmir on the martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Wani, who sacrificed his life for the liberation of his motherland from the Indian occupation.

Raja said Burhan Wani wanted a brighter future for Kashmiri generations to come so they can live freely and without any fear.

CEO and founder of Facilitate Global, Soraya Boyd said that the right to self-determination is the sovereign and inalienable right of all Kashmiris. Under Modi’s rule, she said, India has become a lawless country, where human rights abuses are on the rise and the world must take notice to this at the earliest.

Director of International Human Rights Voice of Victims, Rehana Ali said that women and children have been targeted by Indian troops since 1989. The Indian army used molestation as a weapon of war against women and young girls of IOJ&K, she said, adding that soldiers have been given impunity under black laws and so far not a single Indian military man has been prosecuted for this inhumane conduct.

Secretary General of TeK UK Midland Zone, Azam Farooq said that the image of a three years old child sitting on the body of his martyred grandfather, who was shot by Indian forces, has sent shock waves across the world.

“That picture has exposed real face of the so-called largest democracy of the world and Modi who cannot continue to hide behind the fake propaganda of Bollywood and so-called digital India,” Farooq said. The strength of social media has fully exposed Modi's neo-Nazi fascism, he added.

Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) minister Dr Mahmood Reyaz said that Kashmir struggle has entered into a new and decisive phase after the martyrdom of Burhan Wani, adding that India should read the writing on the wall. “They have lost the Kashmir.”

Councilor Ishrat Shah said that Kashmir issue is the longest unresolved dispute in the United Nations and it is the responsibility of the world body to implement Security Council’s resolutions for its permanent solution.

Muslim Conference leader Raja Ishaq, Pakistan Patriotic Front’s Chaudhry Tariq, Tehreek-e-Insaf AJK leader Chaudhry Shaban, Dil Pazir, Habib Jaan, Chaudhry Muhammad Shabir, Amin Jalal and other leaders of different religious organisations and various political parties participated in the protest to commemorate the “Resistance Day”.