rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK), April 23 — A major Kashmir-focused conference held at the British Parliament in London late Wednesday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), urging urgent international action to address alleged violations and ensure accountability.
The conference, guided by principles of human dignity, justice, and fundamental freedoms, reaffirmed the importance of international human rights law, due process, and the inalienable rights of all people to live with dignity in the occupied territory. Participants emphasized that sustainable peace in the region is only possible through justice, accountability, and respect for civil liberties.
A key focus of the conference was the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners detained in various jails, including those held in IIOJK and India. The participants specifically called for the release of Yasin Malik, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, currently imprisoned in Tihar Jail, along with others detained without credible legal grounds.
The conference strongly urged the protection of fundamental human rights across IIOJK, calling for an end to arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and excessive use of force against civilians. It also emphasized the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and movement as universally recognized rights that must be upheld.
Participants stressed that all detainees must be provided fair trial rights under international legal standards, calling for transparent judicial proceedings and access to independent legal representation. The Government of India was urged to ensure that cases are heard in impartial courts with full legal safeguards.
The conference also expressed solidarity with peaceful civic movements, including the Awami Action Committee, recognizing their demands for political representation, civil liberties, and socio-economic justice.
Lawmakers and participants further called for the repeal of what they described as restrictive laws, including the Public Safety Act (PSA), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), arguing that such legislation undermines civil liberties and contributes to human rights concerns in the region.
The conference recommended the establishment of independent judicial oversight mechanisms to monitor arrests and detentions, as well as unrestricted access for international observers and human rights organizations to courts and detention facilities.
It also called for freedom of media and information, urging unrestricted access for journalists across all regions of Kashmir and condemning internet shutdowns and communication restrictions that limit transparency.
Reaffirming the principle of self-determination, the conference emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be able to express their political aspirations freely and without fear. It further stated that the future of the region should be determined through peaceful and democratic means in accordance with the will of its people.
The conference concluded by encouraging the international community and human rights organizations to actively engage with the situation and promote constructive dialogue aimed at ensuring justice, peace, and long-term stability in the region.