Concern expressed over escalating crackdown by Indian govt in IIOJK
Toronto: Kashmir Global Council leader Farooq Siddiqi expresses deep concern over the escalating crackdown by the Indian government in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Farooq Siddiqi in a statement said the Modi government has once again turned Kashmir into a theatre of repression and mass arrests of Kashmiri youth, arbitrary detentions, house demolitions, and collective punishment of civilians raise serious concerns about the continued erosion of the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
He said the Kashmir Global Council strongly condemned the ongoing crackdown in Kashmir. For decades, Kashmir has been subjected to extraordinary militarization, collective punishment, and restrictions on civil liberties, he added.
He said, “We are deeply concerned that the present escalation in Kashmir could serve to divert domestic and international attention away from the growing political challenges confronting the government elsewhere in India.”
He urged the international community, the United Nations, human rights organizations, and democratic governments to closely monitor developments in both India and occupied Kashmir. Independent observers must be allowed access to investigate arbitrary arrests, collective punishment, demolition of civilian homes, and other potential human rights violations, he maintained.
He said countless Kashmiri students have, over the years, faced intimidation, assaults, lynchings, arbitrary arrests, and discrimination across India simply because of their identity.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to justice, human rights, democracy, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. “We believe that lasting peace can never be achieved through fear, collective punishment, or the suppression of dissent. It can only emerge through dialogue, accountability, respect for human rights, and adherence to the principles of international law,” he maintained.
