Rich Tribute Paid to Maqbool Butt on 39th Martyrdom Anniversary

On the 39th anniversary of Maqbool Butt’s martyrdom, leaders from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Kashmiris worldwide united in honoring his sacrifices, calling for the return of his mortal remains.

The leadership of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has paid heartfelt tributes to the renowned Hurriyat leader, Muhammad Maqbool Butt, who was executed by the Indian government on February 11, 1984, in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. In a series of statements, APHC leaders commemorated Butt’s martyrdom, which continues to inspire the ongoing freedom struggle in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In a message from his incarceration in an Indian prison, Maulvi Bashir Irfani, a prominent APHC leader, expressed deep reverence for Butt and called for a legal campaign to bring the mortal remains of the martyred leader back to IIOJK. Irfani emphasized that international law, along with various global conventions, obligates India to return Butt’s remains to the people of IIOJK. He vowed that the mission set forth by Butt would persist until its rightful conclusion.

Other Hurriyat leaders, including Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori, Bashir Andrabi, Zamrooda Habib, and several prominent figures from the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Muslim League, and Tehreek-e-Urriyet, also paid tribute to Butt. They highlighted that Butt’s legacy and his commitment to the cause of Kashmir’s freedom had ignited a sense of purpose among Kashmiri youth, guiding them toward martyrdom in the pursuit of liberty.

The leaders unanimously demanded the return of Butt’s remains from Tihar Jail, calling on India to respect human rights and fulfill its obligations under international law. They also urged the United Nations and global human rights organizations to pressure India to return the mortal remains to IIOJK.

In addition, a conference organized by the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU) in Brussels, at the EU headquarters, marked the martyrdom anniversaries of both Maqbool Butt and Shaheed Afzal Guru. The event featured speeches by notable figures such as KCEU Chairman Ali Raza Syed, World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance President Chaudhry Khalid Joshi, and prominent social figures. During the conference, participants reiterated that the sacrifices of these martyrs would never be forgotten and pledged to continue their mission for Kashmir’s freedom.

The call for the return of Maqbool Butt’s remains echoes the long-standing demand for justice, reminding the world of the resilience of the Kashmiri people and their unwavering commitment to self-determination.