S. A Haidri
Istanbul: A Two-days International Kashmir Webinar was organized by Faculty of Letters, Department of Urdu, Istanbul University on June 29 – 30, 2020.
International speakers and scholars from Turkish Universities including Federal Minister for Information Pakistan Shibli Faraz, President AJK Sardar Masood Khan, Professor (Dr.) Halil Toker, Chief Organizer & Head, Department of Urdu, Istanbul University,, Professor (Dr.) Mahmut Ak, Rector, Istanbul University, Professor (Dr.) Hayati Develi, Dean, Faculty of Letters, Hon. Ali Sahin, Member of Parliament, Turkish Grand Assembly, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Mir, President, World Kashmir Awareness Forum, Dr. Waleed Rasool Director IDDDS and others also addressed the occasion.
The participants unanimously adopted the declaration that there must be an early, just and durable resolution to the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“The final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.” stated in the conference.
The participants welcome the statement of Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General that the position of the United Nations is to settle the Kashmir dispute according to the United Nations Charter and available Security Council resolutions.
They also welcome the reiteration of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an that “Turkey is in favor of resolving the Kashmir issue by taking into consideration the expectations of our Kashmiri brothers, through dialogue based on UN resolutions. Turkey will continue to stand by justice, peace and dialogue in the resolution of the Kashmir issue and Turkey will continue to raise its voice against the oppression.”
They further welcome the report of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights that India “fully respects the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir as protected under international law.”
Participants in the webinar condemned the Indian government’s recent attempts at changing the demographic status by introducing the tendentious and politically motivated ‘Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules 2020.” Its aim is to alter the demographic character of the Muslim-majority territory at a time when the world’s attention is focused on the worst public health and economic crises of our times because of Covid 19.
They demanded that the Thematic Rapporteurs on Torture and Extrajudicial Killings and the Chairmen of the Working Group on Disappearances and Arbitrary Detention be allowed to visit Jammu & Kashmir to ascertain and report on gross and consistent violations of human rights there.
Moreover, they demanded the repeal of draconian laws, like, the Indian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSAPA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), etc and release of all political prisoners languishing in jails, interrogation centers and detained under emergency laws.
