UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA— Kashmiris from across Europe thronged the city of Geneva, home to diplomats, international bureaucrats and rights organizations, in another sign of Kashmir’s return to the top of the international agenda.Hundreds of Kashmiris from Britain, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain Germany and France, arrived at the Broken Chair, the square in front of Palais des Nations, the seat of UN, where rights activists meet to raise key international human rights issues. This time, India’s human rights violations in Kashmir came in sharp focus. The echo of slogans in English could be heard in the chambers of UN Human Rights Council.
“This was a Kashmir Day in Geneva,†said Altaf Hussain Wani from Indian-occupied Kashmir. Wani is leading a Kashmir Delegation to the 36th session of UNHRC. The slogans in English language attracted passers-by. “Terrorist, Terrorist, Modi Terrorist†and “One Slogan, One Track, Go India, Go Back†were two of the top slogans raised at the occasion. Interestingly, some young Indian citizens briefly joined the protest and appeared keen to raise the slogan against Indian PM Modi.
Before the protest in front of the UN, an exhibition of pictures taken by photographers of international news agencies based in Indian-occupied Kashmir was held at the Geneva Press Club. Every picture, with its original caption and description, adorned the walls of the main hall of at the club. Senior politicians from Azad (Free) Kashmir, Indian-occupied Kashmir, the UK and Pakistan participated. Of those who were present on the occasion included Speaker AJK Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, former AJK minister Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf, Leader of Opposition in AJK Assembly Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin, Leader of Opposition, Lord Nazir Ahmed of UK, Convener APHC Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, and Senator Samina Raheel Qazi.
A Kashmir Delegation representing both parts of the disputed region is in Geneva to participate in the 36th session of UN Human Rights Council. For the first time in decades, Jammu and Kashmir has become a top agenda item in the policy statement of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights. The OHCHR has included Kashmir in the list of other urgent international conflicts, like Syria and Ukraine.
Kashmir Delegation is led by Altaf Hussain Wani, and includes Mrs. Shamim Shawl from Srinagar, Sardar Amjad Yousef from AJK, Pervez Ahmad Shah Advocate, Hassan Banna, APHC Convener Faiz Naqshbandi, Prof. Shagufta Ashraf, and Ahmed Quraishi.
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