News: Speakers denounce India’s ruthless suppression of dissent in Kashmir
Speakers while speaking at a sideline event held on the sidelines of the 51st session of the UNHRC have said that India’s apartheid regime has been misusing ant-terrorism laws to suppress the Kashmiris’ inalienable rights in particular their right to freedom of speech and expression.
The event organized by the World Muslim Congress (WMC) was attended and addressed by international law experts, academicians, rights activists hailing from different parts of the world including Alfred De Zayas the former expert on the promotion of equitable international order, Kashmiri leader Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Barrister Nida Salam and Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani the permanent representative WMC, whereas the event was moderated by executive director Kashmir Institute of International Relations Sardar Amjad Yousuf Khan.
Terming the right to freedom of expression and speech as one of the fundamental human rights, the speakers said that the Indian government was not only violating the international law but its own constitution which guarantees citizens’ right to freedom of speech and expression.
Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international laws, they said this fundamental right was not only protected under the international laws and treaties but Article 19(1)(a) of Indian constitution also states that “all citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression”.
They regrettably noted that the Indian government was brazenly violating these laws in Kashmir where freedom of speech no longer exists.
“Since August 5, 2019 crackdown on independent journalists, rights defenders and members of the civil society in Kashmir has rapidly increased”, they said adding that journalists who reported critically against the government policies have faced intimidation, harassment and long investigations.
Three years after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, they said that the situation in the held territory continues to remain highly fluid and fraught with uncertainty.
“While social, political and economic life remains critically suppressed, hapless Kashmiris are battling for life amid institutionalized insecurity and state-driven violence”, they added.
They said that there has been no letup, whatsoever, in violence and bloodshed in the region, human rights abuses continue unabated while fundamental freedoms remain suspended and a sense of perpetual fear and insecurity looms large over the region.
Suppression of freedom of speech and expression by the Indian government, they said, had led to a wholesale imprisonment of thousands of Kashmiris including politicians, rights defenders and journalists who continue to languish in far off jails as undertrials.
Referring to Amnesty International’s recently released report on Human rights violations, they said that the occupation authorities continued its crackdown on free speech and rights to freedom of opinion and expression. Citing the report, the speakers said, “The Indian government has drastically intensified the repression of the people of the occupied territory, including journalists and human rights defenders by subjecting them to multiple human rights violations”.
They observed along with the induction of new media policy by the Indian government in 2020 the undue restrictions, fear of police reprisals and surveillance have left no space for dissent in the region. “Kashmiris be it a politician, rights activist, a scribe or even a commoner are being harassed and humiliated for expressing their opinion”, they said adding that Kashmiris’ thoughts were being monitored and they were being punished for using social media platforms.
They said the scores of journalists and prominent human rights activists who have played an important role in documenting human rights abuses committed by the Indian troops in Kashmir have been silenced and booked under black laws.
Regarding the frequent suspension of the internet in Kashmir, they said, sanctions on the internet were totally unjustified and violated constitutional rights to free speech and expression.
They said that freedom of expression was considered the most essential right of individuals in a democratic, secular and liberal societies, but India, which claims to be the world’s largest democracy, has trampled this right under the jackboots.
They said that the occupation authorities’ main focus was to choke any or every voice that puts finger against the Modi policies towards Kashmir and its people.
The speakers said that it was high time that the world should take effective notice of the draconian policies of the Modi govt in Kashmir which has crossed all limits of barbarism and brutality in suppressing the Kashmiri people’s right to freedom of opinion and expression.
“International organizations must take notice of the Indian suppression of freedom of expression in the occupied Kashmir and influence the Indian government to respect the people’s fundamental right of freedom of expression and opinion.
The experts expressed concern over the continued illegal detention of veteran human rights activist Khuram Parvez, Ahsan Untoo and others and demanded their urgent release.
Voicing their concern over the sad plight of Kashmiri prisoners, they said that the Indian government was using arbitrary arrests and detentions of political leaders and activists as a tool to suppress democratic dissent in the region.
News: Speakers denounce India’s ruthless suppression of dissent in Kashmir
Speakers while speaking at a sideline event held on the sidelines of the 51st session of the UNHRC have said that India’s apartheid regime has been misusing ant-terrorism laws to suppress the Kashmiris’ inalienable rights in particular their right to freedom of speech and expression.
The event organized by the World Muslim Congress (WMC) was attended and addressed by international law experts, academicians, rights activists hailing from different parts of the world including Alfred De Zayas the former expert on the promotion of equitable international order, Kashmiri leader Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Barrister Nida Salam and Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani the permanent representative WMC, whereas the event was moderated by executive director Kashmir Institute of International Relations Sardar Amjad Yousuf Khan.
Terming the right to freedom of expression and speech as one of the fundamental human rights, the speakers said that the Indian government was not only violating the international law but its own constitution which guarantees citizens’ right to freedom of speech and expression.
Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international laws, they said this fundamental right was not only protected under the international laws and treaties but Article 19(1)(a) of Indian constitution also states that “all citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression”.
They regrettably noted that the Indian government was brazenly violating these laws in Kashmir where freedom of speech no longer exists.
“Since August 5, 2019 crackdown on independent journalists, rights defenders and members of the civil society in Kashmir has rapidly increased”, they said adding that journalists who reported critically against the government policies have faced intimidation, harassment and long investigations.
Three years after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, they said that the situation in the held territory continues to remain highly fluid and fraught with uncertainty.
“While social, political and economic life remains critically suppressed, hapless Kashmiris are battling for life amid institutionalized insecurity and state-driven violence”, they added.
They said that there has been no letup, whatsoever, in violence and bloodshed in the region, human rights abuses continue unabated while fundamental freedoms remain suspended and a sense of perpetual fear and insecurity looms large over the region.
Suppression of freedom of speech and expression by the Indian government, they said, had led to a wholesale imprisonment of thousands of Kashmiris including politicians, rights defenders and journalists who continue to languish in far off jails as undertrials.
Referring to Amnesty International’s recently released report on Human rights violations, they said that the occupation authorities continued its crackdown on free speech and rights to freedom of opinion and expression. Citing the report, the speakers said, “The Indian government has drastically intensified the repression of the people of the occupied territory, including journalists and human rights defenders by subjecting them to multiple human rights violations”.
They observed along with the induction of new media policy by the Indian government in 2020 the undue restrictions, fear of police reprisals and surveillance have left no space for dissent in the region. “Kashmiris be it a politician, rights activist, a scribe or even a commoner are being harassed and humiliated for expressing their opinion”, they said adding that Kashmiris’ thoughts were being monitored and they were being punished for using social media platforms.
They said the scores of journalists and prominent human rights activists who have played an important role in documenting human rights abuses committed by the Indian troops in Kashmir have been silenced and booked under black laws.
Regarding the frequent suspension of the internet in Kashmir, they said, sanctions on the internet were totally unjustified and violated constitutional rights to free speech and expression.
They said that freedom of expression was considered the most essential right of individuals in a democratic, secular and liberal societies, but India, which claims to be the world’s largest democracy, has trampled this right under the jackboots.
They said that the occupation authorities’ main focus was to choke any or every voice that puts finger against the Modi policies towards Kashmir and its people.
The speakers said that it was high time that the world should take effective notice of the draconian policies of the Modi govt in Kashmir which has crossed all limits of barbarism and brutality in suppressing the Kashmiri people’s right to freedom of opinion and expression.
“International organizations must take notice of the Indian suppression of freedom of expression in the occupied Kashmir and influence the Indian government to respect the people’s fundamental right of freedom of expression and opinion.
The experts expressed concern over the continued illegal detention of veteran human rights activist Khuram Parvez, Ahsan Untoo and others and demanded their urgent release.
Voicing their concern over the sad plight of Kashmiri prisoners, they said that the Indian government was using arbitrary arrests and detentions of political leaders and activists as a tool to suppress democratic dissent in the region.
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