- Systematic Torture: Discover the harrowing tactics of torture, including rape, waterboarding, and electrocution, used by the Indian Army in Occupied Kashmir.
- Impunity and Injustice: Learn how legal and political impunity allows gross human rights violations to go unpunished, leaving victims without recourse.
- Voices Silenced: Understand the plight of Kashmiri leaders and activists, unjustly imprisoned and subjected to fake charges and brutal treatment.
- Global Call to Action: Join the international movement demanding justice, accountability, and an end to the relentless torture and oppression in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.
The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed annually on June 26, serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggle against the crime of torture and honors those who have endured its horrors. For the people of Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK), this day holds profound significance as they continue to fight against Indian occupation and endure severe human rights violations (HRVs) for the last seven decades. Pakistan, on this day, reiterates its full diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris worldwide, organizing events to educate international stakeholders about the unending miseries of the people in IOK.
The Unseen Brutality In Indian-Occupied Kashmir:
The Indian Army, operating with an unrestricted mandate in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, has employed torture as a systematic tactic to break the will of the Kashmiri people. According to human rights organizations and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), the Indian state uses torture as a matter of policy in IOK. Tens of thousands of civilians have been subjected to some of the worst forms of human rights abuses.
Latest Situation In The Occupied Kashmir
The methods of torture are harrowing and include sexual violence such as rape and sodomy, waterboarding, burning of body parts with hot objects, solitary confinement, and electrocution to the genitals. A comprehensive report titled “Torture: Indian State’s Instrument of Control in Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir” reveals that 70 percent of torture victims are civilians, and 11 percent die during or as a result of torture. The report highlights the grim reality: “Due to legal, political, and moral impunity extended to the armed forces, not a single prosecution has taken place in any case of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Pakistan condemns the killing of three Kashmiri by Indian forces in IIOJK
The report further emphasizes that “all the institutions of the State, be it legislature, executive, judiciary, and armed forces, form a part” of the torture apparatus. Thousands of Kashmiris arrested before and after August 5, 2019, continue to languish in India’s notorious jails like Tihar, which has become a death trap for Kashmiris.
Systematic Abductions and Imprisonment In Indian-Occupied Kashmir:
India has illegally abducted around 10,000 Kashmiris, including top leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, globally recognized human rights activists, professionals, and journalists. Despite filing fake cases, Indian agencies have failed to produce any substantial evidence in Indian kangaroo courts to prove these charges. Prominent political leaders such as Muhammad Yasin Malik, Musarrat Aalam Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, and Asiya Andrabi were picked up from their homes and whisked off to prisons in India.
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The conviction of Kashmiri leader Muhammad Yasin Malik in a manifestly dubious and politically motivated case filed by the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) illustrates how the Government of India (GoI) is using the judiciary as a weapon to silence legitimate Kashmiri voices. It is beyond any doubt that Malik and other Kashmiri leaders are being penalized simply for raising their voices for the voiceless Kashmiris.
The Indian state does not discriminate when it comes to torture, with women and juveniles also being subjected to it. The entire population of IOK has been subjected to collective punishments like cordon and search operations (CASOs), during which torture and sexual violence are common. According to a study published by Doctors Without Borders in 2015, 19% of the Kashmiri population suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Indian-Occupied Kashmir
International Legal Framework and India’s Defiance:
India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Torture since 1997, but it has not ratified the treaty to date. Universal Periodic Reviews in 2008, 2012, and 2017 recommended that India ratify the Convention, but these recommendations have been ignored. The failure to ratify the Convention against Torture exemplifies India’s reluctance to adhere to international human rights standards and its continued defiance in the face of global scrutiny.
Raising Awareness and Rallying Support:
The Government of Pakistan (GoP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are organizing a wide range of events on this day to educate international stakeholders about the unending miseries of the people in IOK. These events aim to draw international attention to the need for expressing concern about India’s human rights record and to highlight the plight of torture victims, particularly those languishing in Indian jails on fake charges. The events will bring together AJK and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leadership to shed light on the suffering of the people in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.
The planned activities are also a response to those who attempt to sow disunity and undermine Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris. By uniting voices and amplifying the plight of the Kashmiri people Indian-Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan hopes to galvanize international support and pressure India to adhere to human rights norms.
The Way Forward: International Intervention and Accountability
The international community must act to address the ongoing human rights violations in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. The United Nations, along with other international bodies, must push for a thorough investigation into the reports of torture and other human rights abuses. It is imperative that the perpetrators of these heinous acts are held accountable, and justice is served to the victims.
Moreover, there must be a concerted effort to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, journalists, and activists who are often targeted for exposing the truth. The international community should provide support to these individuals and ensure their safety as they continue to fight for justice.
Conclusion: A Call for Global Solidarity
The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is not just a day of remembrance; it is a call to action. For the people of IOK, it is a day that symbolizes their enduring struggle for justice and dignity. The brutalities they face under Indian occupation are a stark reminder of the urgent need for global solidarity and intervention.
As we observe this day, let us remember the victims of torture in Indian-Occupied Kashmir and beyond. Let us honor their resilience and courage by demanding accountability, justice, and an end to the impunity that allows such atrocities to continue. The world must stand with the people of IOK and ensure that their voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their suffering is acknowledged and addressed.
In the spirit of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, let us commit to fighting against torture and all forms of human rights abuses. Let us work towards a world where no one has to endure the horrors of torture, and where every individual can live with dignity and freedom.