UK urged to play role to end rights violations in IIOJK

British lawmakers, Kashmiri diaspora submit a petition with PM Johnson's office against Indian occupation forces

LONDON:

British lawmakers on Wednesday called upon Prime Minister Boris Johnson to use his good office to hold New Delhi accountable for its inhumane actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and end its occupation of the Himalayan disputed territory.

The lawmakers joined the Kashmiri diaspora and their allies on International Women’s Day to urge the British government to force India to end its siege of the scenic valley, according to a statement.

The members of the parliament joined the Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK at 10 Downing Street to submit a petition to PM Johnson, urging his government to speak about the human rights violations including violations of women’s rights in IIOJK.

The petition, signed by the parliamentarians and general public – included reports prepared by various independent and non-governmental international organisations on the violence perpetrated by Indian occupation forces against Kashmiri women – urging them to use their influence to halt the genocide of Kashmiris.

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British lawmakers including Afzal Khan, Liam Byrne, Imran Hussain, Paul Blomfield, Gill Furniss, Muhammad Yasin, Khalid Mehmood, Tahir Ali and Yasmin Qureshi joined the delegation led by TeK President Raja Fahim Kayani.

Other representatives including Rehana Ali, Sheni Hamid and Soraya Boyd and Raja Muhammad Azad also gathered outside PM Johnson's office at 10 Downing Street in London to urge him to play his role to raise the issue that has resulted in the mass violation of women’s rights.

Speaking on the occasion, Kayani said: “Every day, Indian occupation forces violate the dignity of our daughters, sisters and mothers in IIOJK.”

He highlighted that the presence of 1 million Indian troops in IIOJK is itself a violation of all human and fundamental rights of the disputed valley.

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“No one can forget the painful night of February 23, 1991 when wild Indian forces raided Kunan village of Kupwara district and committed mass rape.

“It only happens in IIOJK that no one has been persecuted for such dastardly acts,” Kayani said, adding, “IIOJK is a graveyard of Indian military’s claims of being a disciplinary force.”

The TeK chief further said, “Indian forces have committed innumerable heinous acts of molestation and other anti-women acts. The occupation forces have turned into a beast engaged in mass acts of violence against Kashmiri women.”

He added, “The UK has the power and influence to halt Indian actions and allow Kashmiris to decide their political fate,” he added.