Sheikh Abdul Aziz’s martyrdom a beacon for Kashmiri freedom struggle: APHC
Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has paid glowing tributes to Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz on his martyrdom anniversary, describing him as an icon and great hero of the Kashmiri people who laid down his life for the sacred cause of freedom.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued in Srinagar, APHC Vice Chairman Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar said Sheikh Abdul Aziz’s struggle, life and sacrifices would be written with golden words in the history of Kashmir. He said the martyred leader dedicated his entire life to the Kashmir cause, raised his voice for the oppressed at all levels, and spent years in Indian jails without bowing to “Indian slavery.”
Gulzar termed Sheikh Aziz a “shining star” and vowed that the Kashmiri people would accomplish his mission and that of all other martyrs at all costs. He said that every section of Kashmiri society has rendered sacrifices in the freedom movement, and the people are indebted to Sheikh Aziz and the over 600,000 Kashmiris who have laid down their lives for a “better tomorrow.”
The APHC leader said that India is eliminating pro-freedom leadership under a “well-planned conspiracy” to deprive Kashmiris of their representatives. He recalled that over a dozen APHC leaders, including Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Altaf Ahmad Shah, have been killed, while hundreds of others—such as Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Aasiya Andrabi and Muhammad Yasin Malik—remain imprisoned in Indian jails, facing life-threatening conditions. He urged the international community to intervene to protect them.
Gulzar also condemned the recent ban on 25 books by prominent writers, calling it “yet another dastardly act” and “an attack on freedom of expression.” He alleged that India’s “Hindutva project” in Kashmir is now targeting literature that highlights the plight of the Kashmiri people, in what he called a “vain effort to erase the truth and rewrite history.”
“This is not just a book ban,” Gulzar said. “It is part of Modi’s war on truth, memory and resistance in Kashmir.” He appealed to the international community to take strong action against what he described as Hindutva-driven state terrorism in the territory.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Young Men’s League Chairman Nasir Wani, Vice Chairman Zahid Ashraf and General Secretary Shaheen Wani in a joint statement said that Sheikh Abdul Aziz had dedicated his entire life to the sacred cause of right to self-determination and he challenged India’s oppressive occupation with utmost courage and bravery.
They said Sheikh Abdul Aziz’s life is a beacon of light for Kashmiris, adding the great sacrifices of Kashmiris will definitely bear fruit and Kashmir will be freed from illegal Indian occupation.
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Alliance spokesperson, Sajjad Mir, in a statement issued in Srinagar on the eve of the martyrdom anniversary of Sheikh Abdul Aziz said courageous struggle, eternal resistance and unparalleled sacrifices of veteran Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz are the shining beacon of the Jammu and Kashmir freedom movement.
He said the people of Kashmir will never forget his sacrifices for the Kashmir cause. He said the family of Sheikh Abdul Aziz is also one of the few great families of Jammu and Kashmir which has carved a special place for itself through its unparalleled sacrifices and tireless struggle.
