JEDDAH: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on Tuesday it condemned an ongoing security blockade and communication blackout in Indian-administered Kashmir and called on the Indian government to immediately restore all civil liberties.
On August 5, India revoked the constitutional autonomy of the part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir that it administers and moved to quell objections by shutting down communications and clamping down on local leaders.
Pakistan has reacted with fury to India’s decision, cutting trade and transport ties and expelling India’s ambassador. Both countries claim Kashmir in full but rule it in part.
“Despite this iron curtain blockade, there are credible media reports confirming that over 5000, mostly young Kashmiris, have been illegally detained by the security forces, entire political leadership is incarcerated without any legal recourse, and journalists and human rights activists are being prosecuted on false charges,” the OIC’s human rights commission said in a statement.
“These are deplorable and blatant violations of Kashmiris’ fundamental human rights including the right to life, right to freedom of expression, right to peaceful protest and assembly, which are contrary to international human rights law and also violative of India’s commitments/international human rights obligations.”
IPHRC welcomed the Press Statement issued by the Special Procedures/Rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council, which has termed the ongoing “blackout as a form of collective punishment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir” and expressed concern over the illegal detentions and enforced disappearances of young protesters and use of excessive force, including live ammunition, to disperse the protests.
“There are similar pronouncements from human rights defenders all over the world, including from within India denouncing the undemocratic and illegal Indian actions, which are arbitrary and inconsistent with international human rights law,” IPHRC said, saying that it “shares these grave concerns and supports the recommendation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a Commission of Inquiry under the UN auspices to comprehensively investigate all the allegations of human rights violations.”
The Commission said it welcomed and echoed the call made by the OIC to the Government of India to immediately lift the curfew and communication blackout in Kashmir and restore fundamental freedoms and civil liberties of the Kashmiris.
OIC’s human rights commission condemns curfew, communication blackout in Kashmir
OIC’s human rights commission condemns curfew, communication blackout in Kashmir
- Calls on government of India to immediately restore all civil liberties
- Supports recommendation to establish UN commission to investigate human rights violations
Pakistan’s deputy PM in Saudi Arabia for emergency OIC meeting on Somaliland
- The session is expected to coordinate Muslim response to Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region
- Pakistan’s foreign office says Ishaq Dar will present Islamabad’s position, hold bilateral talks on sidelines
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to attend an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah today, Saturday, which is expected to focus on Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move that has drawn condemnation from Muslim countries.
The emergency session follows Israel’s announcement last month. Somaliland is a self-declared region that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not previously been recognized by any United Nations member state, triggering sharp criticism from Mogadishu and regional bodies.
Pakistan also condemned the development, describing it as Israel’s attempt to undermine the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia. Dar flew to Saudi Arabia late Friday to participate in the conference, according to a statement released by Pakistan’s foreign office in Islamabad.
“The [OIC emergency] session will address the implications of Israel’s recognition of the so-called Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the statement said.
“During the session, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister will share Pakistan’s position on the issue of Somaliland,” it added.
The OIC announced the extraordinary meeting earlier this week, saying it would help coordinate a unified position among Muslim states and reaffirm unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia under international law and relevant OIC resolutions.
A joint statement by Pakistan and other Muslim countries on Thursday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to Somaliland, calling it a violation of the African nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Saar’s visit to Somaliland on Jan. 6 followed reports in international media that Israel had contacted Somaliland authorities over the possible resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza, raising alarm among Muslim countries.
The foreign office said Dar will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from OIC member states on the sidelines of the conference to discuss cooperation on other regional and international issues.
