Posted by: Ch. Muhammad Natiq
European Parliament has expressed deep concern over the human rights and humanitarian situation in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Members of the European Parliament have expressed deep concern over the human rights and humanitarian situation in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Brussels, Belgium,
Members of the European Parliament expressed grave concern over the serious and systematic human rights violations committed by the Indian Armed Forces in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K), particularly since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution on 5 August 2019.
In one of their letters, fourteen members of the European Parliament expressed concern by drawing the attention of the President and Vice President of the European Commission and said that the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been subjected to cruelty and brutality by the Indian government and army for the past seven decades. He said that the Indian armed forces are committing open violations of basic human rights to suppress the voice of Kashmiris.
This is the third time that members of the European Parliament have written a letter on human rights violations by the Indian armed forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The members said Indian authorities have arrested many activists, journalists and human rights activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Many journalists have been questioned for reporting on the freedom movement, and Kashmiri people face raids, threats or physical violence. He said that the continuous shutdown of the internet in all the major cities of Occupied Kashmir has been going on since last year.
He added that atrocities by the Indian armed forces have fueled the insurgency in the region as a result of which youths are joining the freedom movement. He reiterated that Kashmir is internationally recognized as one of the most militarized regions in the world and is a highly dangerous flashpoint between the two nuclear powers.
He called on the President and Vice-President of the European Commission to convey the deep concerns of the members of the European Parliament to the Indian government and ask them to fulfil their obligations under international law, to end the violence, abuse and exploitation of Kashmiris. Immediately stop the discrimination and guarantee that the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris will be fully respected.
