Exhibition on abuse of human rights in IOK held in British Parliament

LONDON, July 8 (APP): An exhibition on human rights abuses in the Indian Occupied Kashmir titled “Kashmiris humans without human rights” was held in the British Parliament on Thursday to raise awareness and concern over the continuous violations of the basic rights of the people of Kashmir. Organised at the upper House of Lords, and hosted by Lord Qurban Hussein the display material was themed within the parameters of Amnesty international’s Latest report 2010 ‘The Lawless Law’. It was prepared by Justice Foundation Kashmir Centre London. A documentary film produced by the Kashmir Centre was also screened in the presence of the parliamentarians. The script was written by Prof Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Executive Director, Kashmir Centre.

The inauguration was attended by Lord Nazir Ahmed, Chairman, All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, and a number of Parliamentarians including Lord Tariq Ahmed, Baroness Meral Hussein Eca, David Ward MP, representative of Amnesty International and Kashmir activists.

Speaking on the occasion, Lord Hussein described the objectives and the perspectives of the exhibition. He said this effort will create wider awareness and serious concern about the trampling of the rights of the Kashmiris.

He implored British Prime Minister David Cameron not to shy away from the human rights violations in the Indian held Kashmir and raise this issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a robust manner.

Lord Hussein informed the gathering that he will raise a question on Kashmir with the Minister of Asia in House of Lords on July 12.

Lord Ahmed hailed the efforts of Lord Hussein with regard to Kashmir. He referred to Dr Angana Chatterjee briefing to parliamentarians earlier this year with regard to the situation in Kashmir. She had highlighted the miscarriage of justice and the unlawful killings.

Lord Ahmed also referred to the killing of 120 youth in uprising last summer in Srinagar and adjoining towns and drew the attention of the international community in this regard.

Representative of Amnesty international J. Batra gave a brief resume of the report. MP David Ward promised to raise the Kashmir issue and the atrocities committed on the people of Kashmir. Another MP Steve Baker supported the inalienable right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said he plans to raise this issue in the House of Commons.

Baroness Meral Hussein Eca was of the opinion that more effort is needed to highlight the suffering of Kashmiri people.


(2011-7-8/Associated Press of Pakistan)