Barcelona, August 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):Hundreds came out in support of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination in Spain’s Barcelona city.
Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora members and their allies gathered in Barcelona on the call of Tehreek-e-Kashmir Spain to demonstrate against belligerent Indian actions aimed at erasing Kashmiri identity.
British lawmaker Afzal Khan addressing the demonstration held in Barcelona to mark “Kashmir Exploitation Day” against India’s illegal and unilateral actions taken on August 5, 2019 said, “The basic reason why human rights violations are taking place in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is because of denial of UN-granted right to self-determination to them.”
“And who is creating hurdles in implementing the UN resolutions on Kashmir,” he said, adding “Only one country and that is India.” Khan, who has been a champion of defending human rights in Kashmir both in and outside of the British parliament, said: “Now is the time that European civil society puts pressure on their governments to intervene and help broker peace in the region and that starts with upholding UN resolutions.”
Fahim Kayani, president of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, while thanking the hosts for organising the important event on Kashmir, said this demonstration of support for Kashmir shows the Europeans are waking up to the reality that India is a farce democracy. He added that such progress is the outcome of untiring efforts of Kashmiri diaspora groups.
Kayani said the European nations “will no longer be misled by Indian propaganda as Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora have been able to put their efforts together which has awakened Europeans that there cannot be double standards on human rights,” he added.
Turgay Evren, Turkish lyricist and composer known for his groundbreaking songs on the Kashmir freedom movement, told the demonstration that people of consciousness still live on the surface of the earth.
“It is unfortunate that mere commercial and geo-political interests have made powerful nations dumb on Kashmir,” Evren said, adding, “But people of conscious still live in this world and the biggest power in any country is its people and it is important for Kashmiris to reach out to these common people who in turn will pressurize their governments to take a stand on Kashmir.”
The Turkish lyricist said the Kashmir freedom struggle is strong as it is backed by the UN resolutions.
“These UN resolutions are the bedrock of Kashmiri struggle for the right to self-determination and there is utmost need to make people aware of these resolutions,” Evren explained.
Shafiq Tabasam, president Tehreek-e-Kashmir Spain, while welcoming the guests, said the battle for Kashmiri freedom movement against illegal Indian occupation “cannot end because fascist Indian military regime has imposed graveyard silence in IIOJK.”
In a joint statement on the occasion, Kashmiri activists Asif Rehman, Sana Tariq, Aima Chaudhry, Abdul Rafia and Hasnain Ibrar pointed to illegal arrests of Kashmiris by fascist Indian military regime in the occupied territory.
Calling for urgent release of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Aasiya Andrabi, Naheeda Nasreen, Fehmeeda Sofi, Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Ayaz Akbar, Ghulam Muhammad Butt, Peer Saifullah and Nayeem Khan, they said, “The international community cannot close its eyes to barbaric measures taken by India in IIOJK.”
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