Brussels: The speakers appealed to the international community to exert pressure on India to hand over the mortal remains of Afzal Guru Shaheed and Maqbool Bhat Shaheed to their families, saying that burial according to religious and cultural traditions is a recognized fundamental human right, which India continues to violate.
They expressed these views while addressing a seminar titled ‘Journey to Freedom’, organised by the Kashmir Council Europe in the European capital Brussels, on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversaries of the brave son of the Kashmiri nation, Afzal Guru Shaheed, and the revolutionary leader Maqbool Bhat Shaheed.
Kashmir Council Europe KCEU’s Chairman Ali Raza Syed stated that Kashmiris can achieve the objectives of the freedom movement through unity and mutual understanding.
He said that unification is a powerful tool that will strengthen the voice of Kashmiris, and this voice will certainly be heard across the world.
The chairman further stated that the right to self-determination of Kashmiris is internationally recognized, and it is necessary at present to highlight this right more effectively at the global level.
He emphasised the need to intensify efforts for the release of Yasin Malik and other political leaders and activists and as well human rights activists, stating that Kashmiri leaders, including Yasin Malik, are enduring imprisonment under baseless charges, and international human rights organizations should raise their voices for release of these Kashmiris.
He said that the purpose of organising this seminar on the martyrdom anniversaries of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat is to highlight the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people and to pay tribute to those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the right to self-determination.
Participants paid tribute to the martyrs of Kashmir and stated that their sacrifices would not go in vain.
He paid special homage to Afzal Guru Shaheed and Maqbool Bhat Shaheed, saying that India has not yet handed over their remains to their families, which constitutes a clear violation of international principles of human rights and justice.
The speakers described Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat as guiding lights of the Kashmir freedom movement and said that these martyrs, like a candle, illuminated the path of freedom for the Kashmiri nation.
The seminar was moderated by Chaudhry Imran Saqib, President of the Pakistan Press Club Belgium. Among the speakers were former Member of the Brussels Parliament Dr Manzoor Zahoor, Professor and researcher Imad Hanif, senior JKLF Europe Zone leader Zaheer Zahid, President of the World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance Europe Chaudhry Khalid Mahmood Joshi, Kashmiri leader Zahid Iqbal, PPP Belgium leader Haji Waseem Akhtar, community leaders Saleem Memon, and Kenneth Roy.
At the conclusion of the event, special prayers were offered for the elevation of the ranks of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat, and other Kashmiri martyrs and for the freedom of the Kashmiri people, and for the establishment of peace and justice in the region.
It is worth noting that February 9 is the anniversary of Kashmiri freedom struggler Mohammad Afzal Guru.
Afzal Guru was hanged in India’s Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013, and buried there without the permission of his heirs. Before that, Mohammad Maqbool Butt was hanged in the same jail on February 11, 1984, and his mortal remains were also buried within the jail against the wishes of his heirs.
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