Pakistan condemns India’s continuing brutal lockdown in Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and the resultant curtailment of religious freedom of millions of Kashmiris on the important festival of Eid al Adha. Across the world, Muslims offer prayers in large congregations as part of their religious faith and injunctions on Eid Al Adha. Restrictions and curtailment of this fundamental religious freedom of millions of Kashmiri Muslims constitutes a serious violation of applicable international human rights law, to which India is a party. With the Valley turned into a massive military prison, Kashmiris were prevented from offering the traditional prayers at Srinagar’s historical Jama Masjid. The complete communications blockade of telephone (landline and cellular) and internet services for over a week, also deprived the Kashmiris from contacting their families and loved ones on this festive occasion. These measures amount to “collective punishment” on an industrial scale and violate all principles and precepts of human rights and humanitarian law. Pakistan calls upon the international community, including the United Nations human rights machinery and other relevant bodies, to hold India to account for these deliberate crimes against religion, violations of international law and lack of respect for human decency.
PREVIOUS NEXT
