#ichd

Kashmir Council EU Chairman Ali Raza Syed today condemned “crackdowns” against the Kashmiri students in New Delhi, and termed it an attack on freedom of speech and expression.

In a statement issued in Brussels, Ali Raza Syed said, “The action against the students is an assault on a democratic right for dissent and debate and against the basic human rights of the people.”

Expressing concerns on the situation, he said, it is a matter of grave concern and against the norms of a civilized society.

“The events including the detention and suspension of students was a cause of concern among the members of academic world and civil societies of the globe,” statement said.

He asked that it is duty of civil society of India specially academia to protect rights of the students in that country.

Terming the Indian attitude as “narrow-mindedness and a discriminated act”, he said, “Victimization of the Kashmiri students in India is unacceptable.”

The Kashmir Council-EU  held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in Brussels to commemorate the anniversaries of the martyrdom of two Kashmiris, Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru. 

Kashmiris on both sides of the ceasefire line (Line of Control) and across the world observe the martyrdom anniversary of prominent Kashmiri liberation leader, Muhammad Maqbool Butt every year on Feb 11. 

Maqbool Butt was hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on the 11th February in 1984 for his leading role in the Kashmiris’ on-going struggle. He was buried in the prison premises. 

Afzal Guru was second Kashmiri to be hanged and buried by the India. The execution took place on the February 19th, 2013 and evoked widespread condemnation by human rights organisations. 

Despite confidence building measures and a ceasefire between the Indian and Pakistani armies in Kashmir repeated pleas by Kashmiris for the return of Maqbool Butt’s and Afzal Guru's remains to their families. No reaction on the part of the Indian authorities. These icons of the Kashmiri liberation struggle have been kept in prison even after their execution.

Denouncing the hanging of Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru without proper judicial arrangements, the demonstrators demanded an immediate handing over of the remains of the two men to their respective families for proper funeral prayers to be held. A number of Kashmiris and their supporters attended the demonstration at which the speakers alleged that Guru was not given a fair trial. 

The Kashmir Council EU Chairman Ali Raza Syed urged Kashmiris to observe the anniversaries of both martyrs.

In his statement, the Chairman of the Kashmir Council EU said, that India had acted inhumanely by holding bodies of the martyrs in jail. 

Ali Raza Syed also warned that India cannot stop the peaceful movement of the Kashmiris in their struggle for the right to self-determination as agreed in the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Brussels, Feb 5: