Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said as the world shows solidarity for the victims of violence based on religion and belief, it must also move to prevent an impending genocide of Kashmiris in Indian-held Kashmir.
“Today, on the first ‘International Day for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief’, we call attention to the plight of millions of Kashmiris living under brutal Indian occupation, abuse, violence and deprived of all fundamental rights and freedoms,” the prime minister posted on his Twitter account. The prime minister said the Indian occupation forces have even denied Kashmiris their right to observe religious practices including Eid ul Azha. “As the world shows solidarity for victims of violence based on religion and belief, it must also move to prevent an impending genocide of Kashmiris in the occupied valley,” he urged.
The international community observed the first International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief on Thursday, as reports of atrocities in Myanmar, Held Kashmir, Syria and Palestine – among other parts of the world – continue to surface.
August 22 was designated as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief in a May 28 meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The day aims at honouring the victims and survivors of heinous acts who often remain forgotten.
UNGA Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a message to commemorate the day, said that the trauma from terrorist attacks causes lasting damage to families, communities and nations as a whole. He called for the international community to do all it can to ensure that victims’ voices are heard, their rights respected, and their recovery supported.
Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also tweeted on the occasion. “Today for the first time the world is commemorating International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. This is the time for the world to take note of and act against the planned ethnic cleansing and feared genocide of Muslims in IoK by the fascist, racist and rogue Modi government,” she said.
