UNITED NATIONS: A UN Independent Expert has issued a warning about the alarming increase in human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of the region’s special status in 2019.
The statement comes just a week before a G20 meeting on tourism is scheduled to take place in Srinagar, raising concerns about the government’s attempt to normalize the situation in occupied Kashmir and gain international legitimacy. The UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues has emphasized the need to address the grave human rights situation in the region.
The UN Special Rapporteur, Fernand de Varennes, has expressed deep concerns regarding the escalating human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The revocation of the region’s special status in 2019 has reportedly led to a surge in torture, extrajudicial killings, and denial of political participation rights for Kashmiri Muslims and minorities, the report stated.
The suspension of democratic rights and local elections, along with direct rule from New Delhi, has further deteriorated the situation, the report noted.
UN expert highlights loss of political autonomy in IIOJK
De Varennes highlighted that the loss of political autonomy and the implementation of new laws, such as the Domicile Rules, have significantly altered the demographic composition of Jammu and Kashmir.
These changes have resulted in political disenfranchisement, reduced political participation, and undermined the linguistic, cultural, and religious rights of Kashmiri and other minority communities.
The influx of Hindus from outside the region has also raised concerns about the overwhelming of native Kashmiris in their own land.
The upcoming G20 meeting on tourism in Srinagar has drawn criticism from the UN Independent Expert, who believes it could provide a misleading impression of normalcy while human rights violations persist.
UN expert urges international community to condemn human rights violations in IIOJK
De Varennes argued that the international community, including organizations like the G20, should uphold their human rights obligations and condemn the situation in Jammu and Kashmir rather than ignoring it.
The continued escalation of arbitrary arrests, political persecutions, and restrictions on media and human rights defenders calls for urgent attention.
The UN Independent Expert’s statement serves as a reminder of the grave human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. As the G20 meeting approaches, concerns are being raised about the potential disregard for human rights violations and the normalizing of military occupation.
It is imperative that international human rights obligations and the principles enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights are upheld. The situation in Illegally Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir should be condemned and addressed rather than brushed aside during the G20 meeting.
