Honoring the Martyrs of IIOJK: APHC Pays Tribute to Muhammad Afzal Guru

The martyrdom of Muhammad Afzal Guru and Muhammad Maqbool Butt continues to inspire the Kashmiri struggle for freedom, as the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) pays tribute to these brave souls on their respective martyrdom anniversaries.

On the 12th martyrdom anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru, leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have paid heartfelt tributes to this revered son of Kashmiri soil. The leaders emphasized that martyrs like Afzal Guru are the true heroes of the Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). His sacrifice, along with that of other freedom fighters, symbolizes the strong resilience of the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.

Afzal Guru was hanged by the Indian government in Tihar Jail, New Delhi, on this day in 2013. His execution was followed by the hanging of another prominent Kashmiri leader, Muhammad Maqbool Butt, in the same jail on February 11, 1984. Both leaders were buried within the jail premises, a reminder of India’s repression in the region. The APHC leaders reaffirmed that their legacies continue to inspire the Kashmiri nation’s fight for freedom.

In messages from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, APHC leaders highlighted the sacrifices made by Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt, saying, “The entire Kashmiri nation is proud of these great sons of the soil who chose to embrace the gallows rather than compromise their ideals.” This powerful statement reflects the immense respect and admiration felt by the Kashmiri people for their martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom.

The APHC has repeatedly condemned the unjust actions taken by the Indian authorities over the past 75 years, describing the executions of Guru and Butt as a stain on India’s justice system. The organization maintains that the violence and political vengeance faced by Kashmiris is an attempt to break their spirit, but the people of Kashmir remain resolute in their fight for their rightful self-determination.

APHC leaders pointed out that, despite the numerous sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people over the decades, the struggle for freedom remains alive and strong. The martyrs, including Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt, continue to serve as symbols of resistance, and their sacrifices are never forgotten. The leadership stressed that the Kashmir dispute is not a passing issue but a lasting reality, one that must be resolved in line with the United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Over the past seven decades, the people of Kashmir have endured immense hardships in their fight against Indian illegal occupation. Yet, the APHC reaffirms that the pursuit of freedom is unshakable. The martyrdom anniversaries of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt serve as a powerful reminder that the Kashmir struggle is not just about territorial disputes, but a deep-rooted fight for justice, human rights, and the right to self-determination.