India assailed for rights abuses in occupied Kashmir

GENEVA: At a meeting with a Kashmiri delegation, the special rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Agency expressed concerns over denial of the right to peaceful assembly by India in the occupied Kashmir.

The delegation, comprising Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Hassn ul Banna, Advocate Parvez Ahmad Shah and Barrister Nida Salam, met Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Celement Nyaletsossio Voule at United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The delegation briefed the UN rights body official about human rights abuses in the disputed territory especially arbitrary arrests of political activists.

He was told about crackdowns and harassment of pro-freedom organizations and the denial of religious freedoms to the Kashmiri Muslims. The delegation said that hundreds of political activists have been picked up from their homes and kept at unknown places. 

The special rapporteur expressed serious concern about the denial of freedom of peaceful assembly and association to the people of occupied Kashmir. 

However, the UN, despite knowing well the ground situation in Kashmir has failed yo fulfill its promise of ensuring the right to Self-determination for the people of Kashmir even after the passage of over seven decades.

The UN also failed to take even notice, let along any action, when the Modi regime in India unilaterally abrogated the special status of Kashmir on Aug 5, 2019, even though the issue has to ve resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.