Atrocities in IOK: Muslim scholars term Indian behaviour as threat to peace

ISLAMABAD: Scholars from various Muslim-majority countries on Tuesday, while expressing serious concerns over the atrocities in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir in particular and rest of India in general, described Indian behaviour as a threat to peace and security of the region, and beyond.

They were speaking at an international webinar, "India: Past, Present and Future: Perceptions of the Muslim World", organised by the Institute of Policy Studies, (IPS) Islamabad, with Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, Lord Nazir Ahmed from UK, Khalid Mahmood, member British Parliament, Prof Dr Hamit Ersoy and Prof Halil Tokar both from Turkey, Prof Farhan Mujahid Chak from Qatar, and Dr Kamal Helbawi from Egypt.

They asserted that Muslim Ummah was increasingly concerned and sensitive to the exploitation and atrocities that they had been facing from different world powers in various parts of the world, but nowhere was that more rampant, deeper and graver than in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir in particular and in rest of India in general.

They warned that Indian behaviour had raised grave security concerns in the region, adding that whether it was the Line of Control (LoC) along Pakistan, or the Line of Actual Control (LoA) along China as well as Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, India had issues with all its neighbors and was a possible threat to the peace and security of the region, and beyond.

In her address, Dr Mazari pointed out that Kashmiris and Palestinians were suffering at the hands of fascist governments and were being subjugated through the most violent abuses in complete contravention of international laws, and the UN Security Council resolutions. "Our fight for the oppressed will continue at all levels," she added. Mazari said that Pakistan would not waver in its support for Kashmir and Palestine, adding that the country would continue to do what it had to ensure that Kashmiris get the right of self-determination.

"Time has come for the Muslim world to stand up and be counted. Are they going to allow the abuse of Muslims, and allow Muslims in occupied territories to be brutalised?" she asked, adding that the Muslim world needed to support Muslims, and speak for the Muslims' human rights wherever they were.

Mazari pointed out that Indian actions had awakened Muslims and Arab civil societies. Now we see very vocal statements on social media from the Arab civil society, and more vocal condemnation of India's treatment of Muslims from Arab states, she said, adding that there was a long way to go.

Mazari said that Hindutva supremacist Modi's government, on 5th August 2019, illegally annexed Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to change the UNSC recognised legal status of Kashmir.

"This is among war crimes under the 4th Geneva Convention," she added. Mazari said that Indian policies were important to understand, as they impact the region, the world, and especially the Muslim world.

"We are seeing increasing abuse, torture and victimization of Muslims across the world but especially Kashmir and Palestine," she added.

Referring to Pakistan's support to Muslim-majority nations in their struggles for independence, she said that Pakistan helped the struggles for independence in Tunisia and Algeria, adding that the leaders from both the countries had to travel on Pakistani passports.

"We stood by the Arab world in its wars against Israel...This principle position should be expected for Kashmir," she added. Pakistan, by its own pro-activism, became a leader in supporting Muslim causes, Mazari said, adding that it supported the Palestine cause and continues doing so. She pointed out that Pakistan stood by Palestinian cause even when Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leadership was close to India because of the non-aligned movement.

"World is undergoing systemic changes. Muslim world is also having to adjust to a more aggressive and hostile approach that the non-Muslim world is taking towards the Islamic world," she emphasized.

Lord Nazir Ahmad, in his address, referred to the increasing extremism in the Indian society and the rising violence against Muslims in India in general, and in occupied Jammu and Kashmir in particular.

"Indian tends to show to the West that it is the largest democracy of the world and her secular fabric makes it a melting pot for societies to practice their culture and religion freely," he said, adding that the recent wave of state-sponsored violence against minorities, particularly the Muslims, had badly exposed the so-called secular face of India.

Ahmad pointed out that India itself had recently convinced public opinion in the Middle East and Arab world of its approach against Muslims, and there was an increasing awareness and activism in these regions in support of Muslims in India. Calling India as a threat to regional security, he said that India had issues with all its neighbors including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

In Pakistan, he pointed out that people within India had been saying that the Indian RAW was supporting terrorism in Pakistan.

Khalid Mahmood, British MP, said that there were sufficient reasons to take India to the International Criminal Court for its persistent violation of the international law and human rights abuses, adding that Muslim majority countries should come out more proactively against Indian atrocities both in occupied Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the rest of India.