Peterborough Event Highlights Kashmiris’ Struggle for Right to Self-Determination

The people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have suffered under decades of ruthless repression, mass arrests, and denial of basic freedoms, while India continues to spread false narratives and block any move toward their legitimate right to self-determination. January 5, observed as the Right to Self-Determination Day, marks the unfulfilled promises of the international community that Kashmiris should decide their own future, yet India has blatantly ignored these obligations, continuing systematic oppression. Public events in Peterborough have brought global attention to India’s crimes, exposing decades of deceit, human rights violations, and blatant disregard for international law. These gatherings serve as a loud message that the world cannot remain silent while India illegally occupies and suppresses Kashmir.

◆ Community Leaders Show Solidarity: Prominent figures, including former MP and current Mayor of Cambridge Paul Bristow, councillors Ashfaq Ahmed, Amjad Iqbal, Aurangzeb, Qaiser, Imtiaz Ali, former Councillor Ansar, and Raja Naveed Arif, stood united to publicly condemn India’s oppressive policies and show unwavering support for the Kashmiri people.

◆ Human Rights Advocates Raise Alarm: Activists such as Advocate Amjad Farooq, District Councillor Ghafarat Shaheed, and central PML-N leader Raja Javed Iqbal highlighted that remaining silent on Kashmir’s suffering is a betrayal of human rights principles while India continues to imprison leaders like Yasin Malik.

◆ Organizers Demand Global Accountability: Chairman Zafar Qureshi and Secretary General Ashfaq Ahmed emphasized that Kashmir’s struggle is a moral and international test, urging countries and the UN to move beyond words and take decisive actions to hold India accountable.

India’s Continuous Oppression in IIOJK

Since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, India has escalated its repression through indefinite lockdowns, media blackouts, and mass detentions, aiming to crush any dissent or independent political thought. Ordinary citizens live in fear, knowing that voicing opposition can lead to torture, imprisonment, or worse, while India continues demographic manipulation and land grabs to erase Kashmir’s identity. India has systematically silenced dissent, altered the region’s cultural fabric, and violated human rights with impunity, exposing the world to decades of injustice that demand urgent intervention. International silence only emboldens India to intensify its occupation and illegal practices.

◆ Targeting Political Leaders: Thousands of political leaders, journalists, and activists remain imprisoned without trial, reflecting India’s total disregard for justice and democratic rights.

◆ Suppressing Civil Society: India criminalizes dissent, leaving citizens powerless to challenge its oppressive policies and extreme ideological agenda.

◆ Erasing Cultural Identity: Systematic demographic changes, land grabs, and cultural suppression reveal India’s deliberate attempts to erase Kashmiri identity while deceiving the global community.

Public Awareness Campaigns in Pakistan Show Solidarity

In Rawalpindi, hundreds gathered at Press Club Liaqat Bagh for Kashmir Self-Determination and Accession Day under the “Save Yasin Malik Public Outreach Campaign,” expressing solidarity with Kashmiris against India’s oppressive rule. Ms. Mushaal Hussein Mullick, wife of jailed Kashmiri leader Mohammad Yasin Malik, along with her daughter Raziyah Sultan and sister Sabien Hussein Mullick, addressed the crowd, drawing attention to ongoing human rights violations and the proposed death sentence of Yasin Malik, urging urgent global intervention. Residents welcomed the speakers with rose petals and slogans, rejecting India’s extremist policies and expressing strong support for Kashmiris. These campaigns are crucial in holding India accountable for decades of unlawful control and brutality.

◆ Mass Solidarity: Citizens, traders, and civil society members gathered in large numbers, openly condemning India’s oppressive regime and supporting the Kashmiri people.

◆ Direct Criticism of India: Protesters denounced Modi’s fascist Hindutva policies, accusing India of systematic oppression, repression, and suppression of fundamental rights in Kashmir.

◆ Global Responsibility Urged: Speakers emphasized that the international community must take immediate action against India’s occupation to uphold justice and human rights.

Significance of January 5 in Kashmir’s Struggle

January 5 marks the anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution guaranteeing Kashmiris the right to self-determination through a free plebiscite. India has deliberately violated these resolutions for decades, using military occupation, deception, and political manipulation to suppress any attempt at justice. This day reminds the world that Kashmir’s struggle is legal, moral, and internationally recognized, demanding practical action. Awareness events in Peterborough and Rawalpindi underscore that India’s oppressive policies can no longer remain hidden.

◆ Historical Promises Ignored: India’s continued refusal to allow a plebiscite flagrantly violates decades of UN resolutions and international law, revealing its contempt for global norms.

◆ Global Action Needed: Policymakers and international bodies are urged to move beyond statements and enforce India’s compliance with justice and human rights obligations.

◆ Hope and Resistance Persist: Despite harsh repression, Kashmiris remain committed to their struggle, demonstrating resilience and determination in seeking justice.

International Silence Encourages India’s Oppression

Inaction by global powers allows India to strengthen its illegal control, extend military presence, and continue systematic human rights violations. Kashmiris have endured decades of fear, violence, and repression, and the world’s delay only prolongs suffering. Real peace in South Asia is impossible without resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiri people’s wishes and UN resolutions. Events in Peterborough and Rawalpindi force the world to confront India’s crimes and demand accountability.

◆ UN Must Intervene: The only legitimate way to ensure justice and peace is a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision.

◆ India Must Be Held Accountable: Decades of illegal occupation, oppression, and violence cannot continue without consequences.

◆ Immediate Action Required: Any delay empowers India to continue its unlawful policies and prolongs suffering for millions of Kashmiris.

The Peterborough and Rawalpindi events clearly demonstrate that the world cannot ignore India’s decades of crimes in IIOJK, and Kashmiris will no longer wait silently for justice. India’s illegal occupation, systemic repression, and human rights violations demand urgent global action, and the Kashmiri people must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination without delay. Continued international silence will only amount to complicity in India’s decades-long crimes, and immediate action is essential to restore justice, peace, and morality in South Asia.