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Geneva, A Kashmiri delegation recently met with Celement Nyaletsossio Voule, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, to discuss the prevailing restrictions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), particularly highlighting the alleged curtailment of freedoms by the Indian government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the delegation, including members Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Hassan ul Banna, Advocate Parvez Ahmad Shah, and Barrister Nida Salam, presented their concerns during a session at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. They detailed specific incidents, including the coerced participation of locals in a rally during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to IIOJK, describing how individuals were purportedly forced under threat to attend.
The representatives conveyed to the Special Rapporteur that the Indian authorities had not only suppressed peaceful assemblies but had also banned various organizations expressing dissent against India’s policies in the region. Additionally, they mentioned constraints on religious practices for Kashmiri Muslims, emphasizing the broader implications for human rights in the territory.
The Kashmiri delegation reported that Special Rapporteur Voule expressed significant concern regarding their allegations, reflecting the international community’s attention to the situation in IIOJK. This interaction underscores ongoing international scrutiny regarding the state of human rights and freedoms in the region.