Remembering Ashraf Sehrai: Icon of Kashmiri Resistance and Sacrifice in IIOJK

The martyrdom of Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai remains a powerful symbol of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) ongoing struggle for freedom, echoing in the hearts of those who resist India’s illegal occupation.

On the fourth martyrdom anniversary of senior Hurriyat leader Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) paid heartfelt tributes to his unwavering commitment to Kashmir’s freedom struggle. Sehrai, a prominent figure in the resistance movement, passed away in Indian custody on May 5, 2021, after years of opposing India’s unlawful occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas described Sehrai as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. According to Minhas, his lifelong struggle and courage have made him a role model for future generations of Kashmiris. He emphasized that the best tribute to Sehrai is to uphold his mission for justice and freedom.

Ashraf Sehrai, who also served as Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, was imprisoned under the draconian Public Safety Act in July 2020. He was taken from Srinagar and held in Udhampur Jail, where he was reportedly denied medical care and slow poisoned. His health deteriorated, yet no medical aid was provided in time. He was only shifted to a hospital on May 4, 2021, and passed away the following day. His family was not informed about his worsening condition until it was too late.

The APHC condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Indian government and its local collaborators in IIOJK for Sehrai’s custodial death. They also blamed them for the recent extrajudicial killings of five young men in various districts, including Bandipora, Uri, Kupwara, and Kulgam. These events, the APHC stated, reflect India’s targeted campaign against pro-freedom leaders and activists in the region.

The civil society in Srinagar also expressed solidarity with Sehrai’s family and the families of other martyrs and political detainees. Sehrai’s son, Junaid Sehrai, also embraced martyrdom in May 2020 during a cordon and search operation by Indian forces in Srinagar. Like his father, Junaid had rejected Indian rule over IIOJK and became a part of the resistance.

Leaders from the APHC-AJK chapter, including Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Parvaiz Ahmed Shah, and Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, praised Sehrai’s lifelong commitment to the freedom movement. They reiterated that his sacrifice, along with his son’s, is a legacy that will inspire resistance in IIOJK for generations to come.

The APHC urged the United Nations to intervene and help resolve the Kashmir dispute, which remains a major obstacle to peace and stability in the region. They also called for unity among Kashmiris to advance the cause of freedom and justice.