SRINAGAR: Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) Chairman Ali Raza Syed has lauded the European Union (EU)’s stance about making the hum
an rights’ situation in Kashmir a part of the upcoming EU free trade dialogue with India.
A press release issued on Sunday said that ahead of the high-level of European Union’s delegation visit to India this year, hum
an rights will be an integral part of the discussion.
Hum
an rights have been the bone of contention between EU and India. The two sides could not reach a final conclusion on Free Trade Agreement (FTA), despite a decade of negotiations.
EU has insisted that any trade deal between EU and India would be done if the latter respects hum
an rights. Protection of hum
an rights is enshrined in the European constitution and it is a cornerstone of European democratic values.
The KC-EU chairman said, “New Delhi is involved in massive hum
an rights violation in Indian-Held Kashmir (IoK) and EU should pressurise India to stop the crimes against humanity in the disputed territory. People of Jammu and Kashmir struggle for
their r
ight of self-determination that is recognised by the
United Nations and is promised by New Delhi itself.”
Ali Raza also appreciated the efforts of Members of European parliament (MEPs) including Sajjad Karim, Afzal Khan, Amjad Bashir and Barbra Lochbihler for
their efforts to raise the issue of hum
an rights in IHK.
Chairman Kashmir Council EU said, EU has important role in the world politics and it is a moral duty of the Union to ask India to stop the human rights violations in IHK and provide right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He added that Kashmiris needed urgent assistance from the European Union in the context of
their hum
an rights and as well as
their political right about the fate of
their home
land.
He further asked EU to review the situation in IHK and stop black laws, extra-judicial killings, illegal use of pellet guns, detention without trial, forced disappearances and rapes of women.
