WKFM urges UN, UK, EU to intervene for Kashmiri women political prisoners
London: President of the London-based World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM), Dr. Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur has made an urgent appeal to the United Nations, the UK Government, and European Union Council, demanding intervention for the Kashmiri female political prisoners illegally detained by the BJP-led Indian government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in his letter, Dr. Thakur highlighted that the leaders of Dukhtaran-e-Millat have been under arrest since 2018 and convicted under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a law that allows Indian authorities to designate organisations as terrorist groups and permits prolonged detention with limited access to bail.
“With severe health conditions, Asiya Andrabi, Fehmida Sofi, and Nahida Nasreen are victims of the Indian state’s continued reliance on anti-terror legislation to prosecute political dissent related to Kashmir,” the letter states. “Multiple human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the UAPA, arguing that it enables prolonged detention without conviction and is frequently used in politically sensitive cases.”
Dr Thakur further criticized international bodies, saying, “While you show concern and advocate for change in cases around the world relating to the condition of women in conflict zones, you have ignored the plight of Kashmiri female political prisoners, making you complicit in India’s crimes.”
The letter also stressed that Kashmir remains a disputed territory and the longest pending issue on the UN agenda, adding, “India’s actions in Kashmir and towards Kashmiris are in direction contravention of UN Security Council resolutions, International Law, Human Rights Law and Geneva Conventions.”
“We have repeatedly reminded you of the condition of the people of Indian occupied Kashmir, especially those who have advocated for the right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, yet you still continue to turn a blind eye to the war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, genocide, settler colonisation and demographic change that India have committed and pursued,” the appeal concludes.
