The Treatment of the Uyghur Muslims: Statement in the British Parliament

 

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab made a statement in the House of Commons, of the British Parliament on 22 March, 2021 about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China.

 

Dominic Raab, M.P.

Secretary of State for Foreign,

Commonwealth and Development Affairs

and First Secretary of State

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab mentioned about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China. He said, “This is one of the worst human rights crises of our time and I believe the evidence is clear, as it is sobering. It includes satellite imagery; survivor testimony; official documentation and, indeed, leaks from the Chinese Government themselves; credible open-source reporting, including from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International; and visits by British diplomats to the region that have corroborated other reports about the targeting of specific ethnic groups.

 

Speaking about the evidence, the First Secretary of State mentioned, “In sum, the evidence points to a highly disturbing programme of repression. Expressions of religion have been criminalised, and Uyghur language and culture discriminated against on a systematic scale. There is widespread use of forced labour; women forcibly sterilised; children separated from their parents; an entire population subject to surveillance, including collection of DNA and use of facial recognition software and so-called predictive policing algorithms.”

 

He also said, “State control in the region is systemic. Over 1 million people have been detained without trial. There are widespread claims of torture and rape in the camps based on first-hand survivor testimony. People are detained for having too many children, for praying too much, for having a beard or wearing a headscarf, for having the wrong thoughts.”

 

The Foreign Secretary was sure “the whole House will join me in condemning such appalling violations of the most basic human rights. In terms of scale, it is the largest mass detention of an ethnic or religious group since the second world war, and I believe one thing is clear: the international community cannot simply look the other way.”

 

Dominic Raab mentioned, “It has been two and a half years since the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination called on China to stop arbitrarily detaining Uyghurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang province. It is over 18 months since the UK led the first ever joint UN statement on Xinjiang at the UN General Assembly’s third committee, back in October 2019. The number of countries now willing to speak out collectively has grown from just 23 to 39 as the evidence has accumulated and as our diplomatic efforts have borne fruit. That is a clear signal to China about the breadth of international concern.”

 

The Foreign Secretary mentioned, “Last year, 50 independent UN experts spoke out about the situation in an exceptional joint statement calling on China to respect basic human rights. Last month at the Human Rights Council, I led the calls on China to give the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet—or some other fact-finding expert—urgent, unfettered access to Xinjiang. Since then, Ms Bachelet herself has reinforced in the clearest terms the need for independent access to verify the deteriorating situation. We regret that, instead of recognising those calls from the international community, China has simply sought to deny them. Chinese authorities have claimed that the legitimate concerns raised are fake news. At the same time, the authorities continue to expand prison facilities, surveillance networks and forced labour programmes. China continues to resist access for the UN or other independent experts to verify the truth, notwithstanding its blanket denials.

 

Speaking about the UK’s part, Dominic Raab mentioned, “For the UK’s part, our approach has been to call out these egregious, industrial-scale human rights abuses, to work with our international partners and ultimately to match words with actions. In January, I announced a package of measures to help ensure that no British organisations—Government or private sector—deliberately or inadvertently can profit from human rights violations against the Uyghurs or other minorities, and that no businesses connected with the internment camps can do business in the UK.

 

Talking about the action taken, the First Secretary of State said, “I can tell the House that I am designating four senior individuals responsible for the violations that have taken place and persist against the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Alongside those individuals, we are also designating the Public Security Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. That is the organisation responsible for enforcing the repressive security policies across many areas of Xinjiang. The sanctions involve travel bans and asset freezes against the individuals and asset freezes against the entity we are designating. The individuals are barred from entering the UK. Any assets found in the UK will be frozen.”

 

Those actions taken alongside the EU, the US and Canada, Dominic Raab mentioned, “We take this action alongside the EU, the US and Canada, which are all taking similar measures today. I think it is clear that, by acting with our partners—30 of us in total—we are sending the clearest message to the Chinese Government that the international community will not turn a blind eye to such serious and systematic violations of basic human rights, and that we will act in concert to hold those responsible to account.”

The Foreign Secretary said, “The suffering of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang cannot be ignored. Human rights violations on this scale cannot be ignored. Together with our partners, we call on China to end these cruel practices, and I commend this statement to the House.”

Lisa Nandy 

Shadow Foreign Secretary

Shadow Foreign Secretary, Lisa Nandy, welcoming the steps, said, “There is no question but that this is a welcome step, and I welcome the moves by the EU today and other partners. I am sure the whole House will stand in solidarity with our fellow European parliamentarians who have been sanctioned by the Chinese Government in response. This is an unacceptable attack on democratic lawmakers simply for highlighting the horrific evidence from Xinjiang.”

 

Labour Member for Wigan, Lisa Nandy mentioned, “The Foreign Secretary has just read out the evidence that we have known about for years. He rightly called it barbaric, but when it has come to taking concrete steps, for years he has not listened. He did not listen to his hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani) or his right hon. Friend the Member for  Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith). He did not listen to us. He did not listen to the Board of Deputies. He did not listen to the World Uyghur Congress. Yet suddenly today the Foreign Secretary has discovered a new-found sense of urgency about the desperate plight of the Uyghur, despite that mounting evidence over several years.”

 

Mentioning the Government’s decade-long incoherent, inconsistent approach to the Chinese Government, the Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy said, “On the day the Foreign Secretary finally announces sanctions on some of the officials responsible for human rights abuses in Xinjiang he is also pulling every trick in the book to stop Parliament gaining the power to block any bilateral trade or investment agreement with China based on a determination of genocide.”

 

She said, “I ask hon. Members to pause and ponder: if this is about co-ordination, why has it taken so long? The Government could have taken co-ordinated action with the United States when it brought sanctions in July last year, or if they felt so strongly they could have moved independently from the EU, as they have done in sanctions on other countries over the last year. Where are the sanctions on officials in Hong Kong when the US took that step this week? We should be taking a leadership approach given our historical commitments in the bilateral treaty, which China is in breach of. We are signatories to the joint declaration, not the United States.”

 

Lisa Nandy “urge all parliamentarians to stand firm: to stand with the public, who overwhelmingly support a principled stance on genocide; to stand with their consciences; and most of all to stand with the Uyghur people.”

Dominic Raab 

The Foreign Secretary replied, “On the question of genocide, the Foreign Secretary said, “The reality, on the genocide amendment, is that we absolutely recognise the ability of this House to hold the Government to account. Through support for the Neill amendment and further concessions, we continue to want to see maximum scrutiny of the Government by Parliament.”

Tom Tugendhat 

Conservative Member for Tonbridge and Malling, Tom Tugendhat said, “I very much welcome the announcement of sanctions that the Foreign Secretary has made this afternoon. He knows that he has no greater supporters on this decision than the Foreign Affairs Committee. However, may I ask him—a gentleman who has devoted so much of his career to human rights law—what is it in human rights law or in the UN definition of genocide that fails to get him to use the word in this circumstance? My understanding —I admit I am not a lawyer—is that the attempted destruction of a people or its culture in whole or in part constitutes genocide. What he has just described to the House sounds to me like it fits that definition, so I am just wondering why he is reticent to use the word.”

Chris Law 

Scottish National Party Member for Dundee West, Chris Law said, China is a serial human rights violator and we must call out the appalling state-backed human rights violations taking place there. It is crystal clear: it is genocide. Indeed, the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy think-tank found that through its actions in Xinjiang, China has breached every single article of the UN genocide convention and has accused China of clearly demonstrating “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.

 

He continued, “Shamefully, the UK Government refused to back the genocide amendment to the Trade Bill, making clear their desire for a trade deal with China as opposed to the preferable tougher approach on human rights.”

 

He asked the Foreign Secretary, “Will he tell the House and the world what specific actions he intends to take to ensure that the UK upholds human rights and that this is a new approach that will not be characterised by the inconsistency, ambiguity and policy incoherence that has defined this Government so far? Finally, will he call out what is happening in China? It is quite simply genocide.”

Sir Iain Duncan Smith 

Conservative Member for Chingford and Woodford Green, Sir Iain Duncan Smith said, “What China has been doing to the Uyghur people and others, including the Tibetans, is nothing short of absolutely appalling. Frankly, as the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Tom Tugendhat), said, we are dancing elaborately around the whole idea of genocide when it is clear that that is what is going on.”

Jim Shannon 

DUP Member for Strangford, Jim Shannon, said, “I thank the Secretary of State for his strong action in today’s statement. China’s systematic persecution and abuse of Uyghurs and Christians, and Buddhists in Nepal, is outrageous and despicable. Following the latest news that the EU has imposed sanctions on Chinese officials, due to what some of us are terming as the genocide of the Uyghurs, will the Secretary of State outline what discussions have taken place with global powers to send a joint message that the removal of children from their parents and their being sent to orphan camps will not be tolerated by the global community and that these words will be followed up with economic action?”

Stephen Farry 

Alliance Member for North Down, Stephen Farry, said, “Article 2 of the convention on genocide sets out five different aspects of genocide. I hope that the reluctance to invoke the term “genocide” is not based on avoiding the widespread responsibilities that arise from that under international law. Will the Government now automatically grant refugee status to all Uyghur people fleeing to the UK?”

Dominic Raab, answered, “I thank the hon. Gentleman. Asylum applications are quite rightly done independently, rather than just on a political whim. He refers to the definition in the genocide convention. Before coming to the House, I worked on war crimes, including in The Hague. It is very rare that a tribunal has found human rights abuses to amount to genocide because of the specific legal definition, but we do think the right thing is that a tribunal, whether it is domestic or international, makes that judgment.”

Tim Loughton 

Conservative Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tim Loughton, said, “I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement today, but it is one element of so much more that needs to be done. Everything he referred to as industrial scale assaults on human rights against the Uyghurs has been committed by the Chinese Government against the Tibetans since 1959, until recently by one Chen Quanguo, who brought what he called “ethnic stability”—it is what we know as “ethnic cleansing”—to Tibet and who is now bringing genocide to the people of Xinjiang. So why is he not on the list? And when our Five Eyes partners, such as America and Canada, and allies such as the Netherlands have referred to this as genocide, and many other countries are considering doing so, why can we not call it out for what it is: genocide, pure and simple?”

Ms Nusrat Ghani 

Conservative Member for Wealden, Ms Nusrat Ghani, said, “He knows that my Select Committee—the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee—produced a report on this. Let us just blacklist companies that are based in Xinjiang. We cannot go in and check what is happening, and we know that it is basically a prison camp. Secondly, because I agree word for word with my right hon. Friend’s statement, I assume that he is going to be in the Lobby with me tonight backing the genocide amendment, because without it, the Neill amendment excludes the Uyghurs. Let us not have a two-tier genocide policy. Let us make sure that the Uyghurs have their case heard.”

Alison Thewliss 

Scottish Nationalist Party Member for Glasgow Central, Alison Thewliss, said, “Amnesty International’s report, “Hearts and Lives Broken: The Nightmare of Uyghur Families Separated by Repression” tells a very chilling story of families who have no idea where their children are. What is the Secretary of State doing to make sure that the Uyghurs and all Chinese ethnic minorities who have been separated are facilitated to get back to their children and to put those families back together?”

Janet Daby 

Labour Member for Lewisham East, Janet Daby, said, “Two weeks ago today, we celebrated International Women’s Day. Many of us spoke about the abhorrent persecution of the Uyghur women, but this community is clearly experiencing genocide by the Chinese Government. I am appalled to hear that the Secretary of State told his staff candidly that he planned to trade with any country regardless of their human rights record. If that is true, it is shameful. When will he call out the genocide of the Uyghur people and when will the UK take a world-leading role on this matter?”

Chris Bryant 

Labour Member for Rhondda, Chris Bryant, said, “Yes, announce sanctions against those involved in what I would certainly call genocide in China, but, at the same time, they drag their feet about it, take too long to deal with the human rights abuses in Hong Kong being perpetuated by Carrie Lam, and quite often refuse to take action against the dirty money, for instance, from Russia that is coming into the UK. May I urge him to think seriously about how we make the Magnitsky sanctions regime, which he very wisely and courageously introduced, have more of a parliamentary angle to it, so that we can help review and bring these sanctions into place?”

 

 

 

Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi On Month of Shabaan

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

 

Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al-ASheikh, Imam at the Masjid al-Nabawi, Madinah al-Munawwarah, gave his Friday Jumah Khutbah on Month of Shabaan on 19 March 2021. He said, “O Muslims, remember, the month of Shabaan is one of the most highly noble months and it is one of those months of the year that is incumbent upon every Muslim to utilise it in matters of worshipping Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, seeking steadfastness. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says in the Qur’an that O believers, be dutiful to Allah. O slave of Allah, take and manage your time and your life and always haste during your lifetime to the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and remember our Messenger of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, peace and blessings upon him, that is to be his way of life. He used to fast most of the month of Shabaan as Aishah Radhiallahu Anha mentioned that indeed I never saw the Messenger to fast more in the month of Ramadan apart the month of Shabaan. And that Hadith has been agreed upon.”

 

The Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque mentioned, “In the Book of Hadith, with the Hadith of Muslim, Aishah Radhiallahu Anha said that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam used to fast the whole month of Ramadan except a few days and the righteous scholars of Islam used to consider the month of Shabaan as the month of those who recite the Qur’an because people used to recite and read the Qur’an so much and spent more time as you can do the same things in the month of Shabaan with all sorts of, all different forms of obedience to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, seeking and utilising all the opportunities and all the different  ways of praising Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala as reminded to us by the Qur’an and also by the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam by means of  praying, fasting and doing Umrah. Also remembering Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala by recitation of His Book and one of the most important that is beneficial that Muslims must use this month of Ramadan to those and also to engage yourselves in actions that benefit the Muslims who are needy and those who are despendent.”

 

Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al-ASheikh said, “In the Book of Ahmad and Nasa’i,  Zaid bin Thabit Radhiallahu Anhu mentioned that he asked the Messenger of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala; he asked him that I never saw you fasting so much as you did the month of Shabaan. And the Messenger mentioned, that is the month during which many people do not pay attention and it is the month during which the acts of mankind are raised to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and I do prefer to seek to have all my actions of worship raised to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala while sometimes engaging in acts of fasting. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to ensure that throughout his lifetime he should be dutiful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala.”

 

The Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque said, “What was mentioned in the Book of Ahmad and Musnad that the Messenger of Allah says that when the 15 days of Shabaan go then do not fast. The scholars have mentioned that Hadith is rejected in terms of its tone and words and also because of the chain of transmission.”

 

Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al-ASheikh said, “What is most important is to seek, is to be dutiful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, exhaust ourselves in all those acts of worship that engage in the acts of reciting Qur’an.”

 

The Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque said, “O Muslims one of the most important principles that we should know is to ensure that we avoid and we forbid innovations in matters of Deen and worship Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet and the Divine Message. And remember that indeed, to single out the 15^th night of the month of Shabaan with special kind of prayer and also the day of the 15^th day of Shabaan to fast it; that is something has no basis of authenticity in matter of Deen. Many scholars had all established and have categorically made it clear that it is a form of innovation. And whatever has been mentioned in one of the Hadiths that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala did on this 15^th night of Shabaan that Allah has sent and looked at the slaves and forgives every single person of the world except those who do not trust in worship. Scholars mentioned that this has no basis at all; there is nothing at all that single out of this 15^th night and day of the month of Shabaan.”

 

Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al-ASheikh said, “What is very common among people where people made extra efforts on the night of the 15^th of Shabaan and also what is called the Shabane exerting special acts of worship is purely an act of innovation; that should not be acceptable in the matter of Deen. So be mindful and be careful of innovations. It is a form of disobedience and misguidance and it is a turning away from the right path and it is some thing not to be accepted. It is based on innovation. Therefore, remember that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has commanded us to do something with which our hearts are worded and by which we can enjoy the blissful end on the Day of Qiyama by sending our salutations for the Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam.”

 

Summary Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi

Followings are the Summary khutbah at the Masjid al-Nabawi delivered by Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al-ASheikh on 19 March, 2021, [rendered into English@ Islam Channel, UK]

 

Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al-ASheikh, Imam of the Masjid al-Nabawi started his khutbah by saying, “Praise be to Allah Who is praised with the highest and noblest of praises and I bear witness that none deserve to be worshipped except Him, the One and the Only the Great and the Most Highest Esteem and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Messenger. May Allah send blessings upon him and his family. O Muslims I do urge you and myself to be dutiful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and I seek the best of preparation, the best that do that by being dutiful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala if you have to reflect.

 

“O Muslims, remember, the month of Shabaan is one of the most highly noble months and it is one of those months of the year that is incumbent upon every Muslim to utilise it in matters of worshipping Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, seeking steadfastness. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says in the Qur’an that O believers, be dutiful to Allah. O slave of Allah, take and manage your time and your life and always haste during your lifetime to the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and remember our Messenger of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, peace and blessings upon him, that is to be his way of life. He used to fast most of the month of Shabaan as Aishah Radhallahu Anha mentioned that indeed I never saw the Messenger to fast more in the month of Ramadan apart the month of Shabaan. And that Hadith has been agreed upon.

 

“Also in the Book of Hadith, with the Hadith of Muslim. Aishah Radhallahu Anha said that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam used to fast the whole month of Ramadan except a few days and the righteous scholars of Islam used to consider the month of Shabaan as the month of those who recite the Qur’an because people used to recite and read the Qur’an so much and spent more time as you can do the same things in the month of Shabaan with all sorts of, all different forms of obedience to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala seeking and utilising all the opportunities and all the different  ways of praising Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala as reminded to us by the Qur’an and also by the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam by means of  praying, fasting and doing Umrah. Also remembering Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala by recitation of His Book and one of the most important that is beneficial that Muslims must use this month of Ramadan to those and also to engage in actions that benefit the Muslims to the needy and those who are despendent.

 

“In the Book of Ahmad and Nasai,  Zaid bin Thabit Radhallahu Anhu mentioned that he asked the Messenger of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala; he asked him that I never saw you fasting so much as you did the month of Shabaan. And the Messenger mentioned, that is the month during which many people do not pay attention and it is the month during which the acts of mankind are raised to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and I do prefer to seek to have all my actions of worship raised to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala while sometimes engaging in acts of fasting. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to ensure that throughout his lifetime he should be dutiful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala.

 

“But what was mentioned in the Book of Ahmad and Musnad that the Messenger of Allah says that when the 15 days of Shabaan go then do not fast. The scholars have mentioned, that Hadith is rejected in terms of its tone and words and also because of the chain of transmission.

 

“What is most important is to seek, is to be dutiful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, exhaust ourselves in all those acts of worship that engage in the acts of reciting Qur’an.

 

“I pray to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala to bless you whatever you have heard and I seek Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala to forgive you and seek Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala to forgive you. Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala is oft-Forgiving and All-Merciful.

 

Second Part

“All praise to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah without any partner and I bear witness that He sent Muhammad as His Messenger and slave.

 

“O Muslims, one of the most important principles that we should know is to ensure that we avoid and we forbid innovations in matters of Deen and worship Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet and the Divine Message. And remember that indeed, to single out the 15^th night of the month of Shabaan with special kind of prayer and also the day of the 15^th day of Shabaan to fast it; that is something has no basis of authenticity in matter of Deen. Many scholars had all established and have categorically made it clear that it is a form of innovation. And whatever has been mentioned in one of the Hadiths that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala did on this 15^th night of Shabaan that Allah has sent and looked at the slaves and forgives every single person of the world except those who do not trust in worship. Scholars mentioned that this has no basis at all; there is nothing at all that single out of this 15^th night and day of the month of Shabaan.

 

“And what is very common among people where people made extra efforts on the night of the 15^th of Shabaan and also what is called the Shabane exerting special acts of worship is purely an act of innovation; that should not be acceptable in the matter of Deen. So be mindful and be careful of innovations. It is a form of disobedience and misguidance and it is a turning away from the right path and it is some thing not to be accepted. It is based on innovation. Therefore, remember that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has commanded us to do something with which our hearts are worded and by which we can enjoy the blissful end on the Day of Qiyama by sending our salutations for the Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam.

 

Dua and Supplication

“I plea to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala to send His salutations and blessings upon His Messenger Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihey Wa Sallam and his companions. O Allah, I ask you to send forgiveness to forgive the believers, men and women, Muslim men and women, those who are living and those who are dead. O Allah, we ask to grant us goodness in this Duniya and the goodness in the Hereafter and protect us from the Hell-fire.

 

“O Allah, guide us on the path with which You would be pleased and accept from us. O Allah, we ask You to guide us which will please You and accept from us. O Allah, we ask You to make us among those who are dutiful to you and those being guided and those who are rightful, righteous, and rightly-guided persons. O Allah, the Almighty, the All-Praiseworthy. O Allah, we ask You to guide the leadership, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the leadership of this country. O Allah, I ask You to protect them, the Muslim countries, the country and the countries of the Muslims from anyone who has wrong intentions toward them. O Allah, whoever has the wrong intentions towards the Muslims and the Muslim communities and the humanity; O Allah, we ask you to hold them to account and take them back deleted and unsuccessful.

 

“O Allah, we ask you to bring unity around the words of Taqwa, bringing the unity among Muslims along Iman and the correct faith. O Allah, we ask you to remove and raise that has affected the Ummah Muhammadiyah in terms of the catastrophe and the misguidance that is actually and any misguidance in matters of Deen. O Allah, protect the blood of Muslims in all aspects. O Allah, protect the blood of all Muslims in all corners of the world. O Allah, those who stay away from family, we ask You to take them back to their families, happy, peaceful and successful. O Allah, we ask You to send Your Mercy to all Your slaves, with which You render their matters and with which You remove the difficulties of their life.

 

“O Allah, we ask You to send us the rain. O Allah, You know what has befallen us and to many Muslim countries in terms of provision of rain which is the basis of their survival. We ask O Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala to grant them the rain, to revitalise their provisions and their well-being. O Allah, do not punish us because of our shortcomings. O Allah, do not deny us. O Allah, we ask You to send to us Your blessings which is rain which will make sufficient our life, and consolidate our faith into You. O Allah, You are Oft-Forgiving; All-Merciful; You are the Self-Sufficient. You are the All-Compassionate. O Allah, do not turn us away from You as unsuccessful. O Allah, do not render us despondent of Your Mercy.

 

O Allah, we acknowledge that we are weak towards You and we need towards You. O Allah, You are Self-Sufficient. O Allah, You are self-Sufficient. We ask You to grant us this sustenance, this stability in our life. O Allah, forgive us. O Allah, show Mercy upon us. O Allah, I ask You to forgive us and all-praise be to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon Your beloved Messenger.

 

Acknowledgement

Courtesy: @Islam Channel, U.K.

 

 

 

 

Violations of Human Rights in Kashmir and the Role of Media

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

The Human Rights Department of the Punjab University, Lahore, has organised a webinar meeting on 9 February 2021 at the University campus. The topic was Violations of Human Rights in Kashmir and the Role of Media

 

Those who participated in the webinar meeting were the followings:

Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University;

Dr. Abida Ashraf, Chair, Human rights Division,

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum,

Professor Faizul Haq, State University of New York,

Dr. Mohammad Khan, International Islamic University and

Sheikh Tajammul Islam, Chief Editor, Kashmir Media Service Islamabad..

 

I received the following reports from Dr. Imtiaz Khan.

 

Kashmir webinar at Punjab University, Lahore

Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhter welcomed everyone and thanked all the colleague for attending this important webinar on Kashmir. He appreciated the effort of all the students, educators and attendees. He shared that he has not been able to forget the impact of all the presentations that were made in other webinar that took place on campus few days earlier. He formed a steering committee to pursue the cause of Kashmir both nationally and internationally. Punjab University, Lahore is one of the oldest and largest Universities of South Asia.

 

Prof. Abida Ashraf, professor of Communication at Punjab University Chair of Human Rights Commission, was the emcee of the webinar. She introduced all speakers and mentioned that only with coordinated efforts we can bring about the change in the public opinion.

  

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai said that Kashmir conflict has many dimensions: Political, diplomatic, humanitarian, etc. But the goal of all these dimensions is just one: to have a greater understanding of world powers to help us to exercise the right to self-determination as was guaranteed under UN Security Council resolutions. The most crucial elements that can facilitate that understanding is the media. As Marshal McLuhan has said that the medium is the message.  It is a fact that the media becomes instrumental in shaping the foreign policies of world powers.  Fai added, a timely editorial or article, even a letter to the editor in major newspaper can influence the outcome of a Congressional debate or encourage a shift in the policy of the  administration.

 

‘Unfortunately, both Obama and Trump administrations favoured India over the people of Kashmir. They made no protests at the United Nations Security Council over India's violations of human rights or its plebiscite resolutions. That was tantamount to acquiescence in India's illegal claim of sovereignty over Kashmir.  They gave India a veto over any third party intervention knowing it would be employed to the disadvantage of Kashmiris,” Fai said.

 

Fai expressed hope that President Biden has always been very sensitive to the human rights violations across the globe. Biden pleaded the case of Bosnia in the US Senate and declared the situation there as genocide. The current situation in Kashmir is no different than the situation of Bosnia in 1995. Let us hope that the saner elements in Biden administration realize that resolution of Kashmir dispute will unlock another tragic situation which we know as Afghanistan.

 

Sheikh Tajammul Islam said after abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, the so-called accession of Kashmir became annexation. Legally speaking it is now total occupation. More so, India would like to impose its will on the hapless people of Kashmir through draconian laws which have given total impunity to Indian army in Kashmir. The reports issued by intentional NGOs testify to the fact that Indian army is involved in crimes against humanity. It is the moral duty of the world powers to bring the criminal of these war crimes before International Criminal Court.

 

Sheikh Tajammul Islam emphasized that there is absolutely no doubt that Indian media is not only dominated but also controlled by fascist ideology of RSS and BJP. It needs to be exposed before the world community. He said that despite all these atrocities committed on the innocent people of Kashmir, the people of Kashmir have never resigned to the military occupation of India.

 

Dr. Mohammad Khan said that people of Kashmir are facing atrocities which are unparalleled in the region of South Asia. The region shares borders with three nuclear powers, India, Pakistan and China. India is fighting with China on one side and with Pakistan on the other and making it the most dangerous place on earth and nuclear flash point. He emphasized that the demand of the people of Kashmir has the international legitimacy. The right to self-determination was guaranteed by the United Nations as early as 1948. The world body has yet to fulfil those promises.

 

Dr. Faizan Haq said that we must engage with Kashmir issue at three different levels:

Emotional and Personal Level. As the emotional level gives an outlet, venting, and creates an affiliation. It is important for healing and dealing with the trauma.

 

Political and Media Level. This cause provides Pakistani political parties, leaders, media and stakeholders, a political agenda to gain traction with the masses. Raising these issues at global level gives prestige, and recognition.

 

Global Strategic Level. This is where we need to connect all the dots from personal level to political level, it must be a part of a global strategy. The strategic goals require a thought out plan for the narrative, expressions, and political positioning for the sake of elevating Kashmiris and their lives.

 

Dr. Haq proposed initiation of “Kashmir Cause Awareness Coordination Committee” that will strategize all awareness efforts to achieve and measure effect of actionable items. India’s economic well-being must be directly connected with granting Kashmiris their rights according to the UN resolution.  

  

I must write what is in my mind. As God has not created anything stronger than the word. Word is the ultimate communicating bridge. From perception to reality, from inception to existence, from thought to theory, it the word that takes us places, Dr. Faizan emphasized.

 

Acknowledgement

Courtesy @ Dr. Imtiaz Khan

Khutbah Masjid al-Haram On Morality Privacy Honour

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

Sheikh Dr. Saud al-Shuraim, Imam at the Masjid al-Haram, in his Jumah Khutbah Friday at the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah, said on Morality, Privacy and Honour on 12 March, 2021. He said, “As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has created us male and female and put in ourselves desire to have relationship with each other. Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has regulated relationship between other human beings and between male and female. The regulations are governed by ethos, ethics and morality and code of conduct and morality. Anything which pollutes the high moral standard and the boundaries set by Allah and Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam, then it is losing situations even if we have been progressing in terms of material possessions in the world.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “Apart from the physical security and peace, protection of privacy and honour is one of the most important assets in life. So protection of privacy and public interest should be highly regulated. Protection of honour dignity and privacy should not be violated by social media, or print media or electronic media.”

 

Sheikh Saud al-Shuraim said, “Destroying someone’s reputation and destroying their privacy is one of the heinous crime equalled to physical and other protective measures. Protection of soul, protection of body, protection of property, protection of religion, belief, protection of honour - all these are from the objectives and main theme of Shari’ah. May Allah protect us from playing with other people’s reputation and other’s privacy, violating other’s privacy and destroying some one else reputation and social status.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “To taint someone reputation is one of the things people have been obsessed in their private communication and in public communication. The reason behind this violation of privacy and disrespect of dignity and dignity and honour is either because of ignorance or because of criminal mentality or with intent destroying and harming others. Tainting other peoples’ reputation and their honour does not only affect the individual, it affects family and the neighbourhood and the other things.”

 

Sheikh Saud al-Shuraim said, “Whether we are at home or whether we are at public spaces, playing with other peoples’ dignity and privacy is one of the heinous crime which should be observed and protected and it should be enforced in private and public. Even if general people, men and women, if they are not careful about even their own reputation and their own honour and dignity and some lapses happened from them, still it does not justify other people to violate the privacy and treat them with undignified manner and try to taint it.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “There should be deterrent in our public space and in our observation and in our public conscious about all the protective measures which need to be taken. As our Prophet Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam has said that eventual violation of each other dignity and honour does not happen and illegitimate relationship does not happen with suddenness. There are pretexts to illegitimate relationship. So Zina of eyes are to look at non-Mahram and Zina of hands are to touch inappropriately. So sexual harassments and comments and gauging on others – opposite sex  - is one of the violations, is one of the pretexts to Zina and eventual illegitimate relationship of Zina happens when there are all the pretexts there.”

 

Sheikh Saud al-Shuraim mentioned, “When a Governor of Iraq was falsely accused of certain things to taint his reputations, he made a dua against the person that O Allah, is this person is wrong and he is seeking just a prominence by accusing the people in the power. O Allah, put him through trials and tribulations. That person was cursed with the dua of Saad ibn Rabbi Radhiallahu Anhu and he used to be walking in the streets of Qufa – with all sorts of lewd things and saying to the people that I am the curse of Saad ibn Rabbi.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “Protection of honour which is one of the five Muqasids of Shari’ah should be protected by all measures – protective measures, by deterrent measures, punishment and other appropriate actions and the law and order enforcement agencies are looking and developing things to protect each others’ privacy and protect the honour of each other and not to use the public space to harm each other and taint their reputations. Because violating each others’ privacy and tainting the honour is among the Hukuk of human rights and human rights are based on negotiations and anybody who violates others rights is deserved the appropriate deterrent and punishments.”

 

Sheikh Saud al-Shuraim mentioned, “As in the Farewell Sermon Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam has declared that in this most sacred place at the most sacred day as it is sacred, sacredness extent to all security of the people to their blood, to their honour, to their property, to their belief system. Those who play with other peoples’ reputation and honour did their privacy and taint them by words and actions in public and private, they should think about their own extended family, their own relatives. If it is to their own sisters, their own mother or their own aunties, if they would like to their own family members honour or dignity violated or cursed or tainted as people do with each other.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “As it is reported in a story that a young person asked Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam to allow him to have an illegitimate relationship or Zina with others, so Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam convinced him that would you like this illegitimate relationship to be maintained with your own family members, yours sisters, your mother, or your aunties. He said, no. Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam said, why do you wish others to allow you to have  illegitimate relationship  when you do not wish for your own family.”

 

Sheikh Saud al-Shuraim mentioned, “As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala urges us to maintain higher standard of morality and abstinence from any illegitimate gauge or relationship as Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says that those who are not married they should keep themselves protected until they can afford to get married and have legitimate relationship. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says that those who do not expect to have relationship and married invitation, they can live some of their hijabs but if they take their hijabs it would be better for them. Still Allah urges all the men and women to keep their gauge lower and protect their honour and their abstinence and their riswa.”

 

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “We are all subjects of accounting on the Day of Judgement in front of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala We do not know whether our Book of Deed will be in our right hand or on the left hand. So I will urge all the Muslims to observe each other’s dignity honour and privacy and do not seek any illegitimate relationship. There is a story that one of the shahabis said I think I can show you one woman of Jannah – there was this black lady who used to have some leprosy or some illness; She came to Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam to ask for dua, seek for dua to be cured; Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam said, If you want I can make dua for you; but if you want you can be patient and Jannah is guaranteed for you. She said, yes O Rasulullah I am happy with it but can you make a dua that I should not get exposing public when I am in my situation.”

 

Sheikh Saud al-Shuraim said “Look at this lady who was very conscious of her dignity her privacy. She at least ask Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam to make dua that even in her worst situation she should not be exposed publicly. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala urges through Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam that O Rasul, tell Muslim men and women to keep their gauges low and keep their private part safe from the illegitimate relationship. Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala urges us and wishes us pure and tranquil and peaceful relationship and legitimate relationship; not any public or illegitimate relationship.”

 

Full Khutbah at Masjid al-Haram

Followings are the full khutbah at the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah,  delivered by Sheikh Dr. Saud al-Shuraim, on 12 March, 2021, [rendered into English by Mufti Barkatullah @ Islam Channel, UK]

 

Sheikh Dr. Saud Al-Shuraim started his Khutbah by saying, “Indeed all praise belongs to Allah. We thank Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala. We seek help from Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and we seek refuge from the side-effects from all our rebellions and disobedience. Those whom Allah guides, nobody can lead astray and those whom Allah leads astray nobody can guide. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger and the servant. O People, you should be afraid and observe Taqwa towards Allah as one should be and be afraid of Allah who has created all the humanity by one should be afraid  of Allah who has created all the humanity by one soul. Be careful with Allah by whose name you ask each others Favours and Allah is watching over you. O believers only say appropriate things He will put your actions into right direction and those who observe Taqwa, they are successful people.

 

“The best guidance is the Book of Allah and the best role model is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam. The clever are those people who control themselves and work for the Hereafter. Those people who had just have good wishes and do not behave they are the wishful thinkers.

 

“As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has created us male and female and put in ourselves desire to have relationship with each other. Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has regulated relationship between other human beings and between male and female. The regulations are governed by ethos, ethics and morality and code of conduct and morality. Anything which pollutes the high moral standard and the boundaries set by Allah and Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam, then it is losing situations even if we have been progressing in terms of material possessions in the world.

 

“Apart from the physical security and peace, protection of privacy and honour is one of the most important assets in life. So protection of privacy and public interest should be highly regulated. Protection of honour dignity and privacy should not be violated by social media, or print media or electronic media.

 

“Destroying someone’s reputation and destroying their privacy is one of the heinous crime equalled to physical and other protective measures. Protection of soul, protection of body, protection of property, protection of religion, belief, protection of honour, all these are from the objectives and main theme of Shari’ah. May Allah protect us from playing with other people’s reputation and other’s privacy, violating other’s privacy and destroying some one else reputation and social status.

 

“To taint someone reputation is one of the things people have been obsessed in their private communication and in public communication. The reason behind this violation of privacy and disrespect of dignity and dignity and honour is either because of ignorance or because of criminal mentality or with intent destroying and harming others. Tainting other peoples’ reputation and their honour does not only affect the individual, it affects family and the neighbourhood and the other things.

 

“Whether we are at home or whether we are at public spaces, playing with other peoples’ dignity  and privacy is one of the heinous crime which should be observed and protected and we should be enforced in private and public., Even if general people, men and women, if they are not careful about even their own reputation and their own honour and dignity and some lapses happened from them, still it does not justify other people to violate the privacy and treat them with undignified manner and try to taint it.

 

“There should be deterrent in our public space and in our observation and in our public conscious about all the protective measures which need to be taken. So as our Prophet Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam has said that eventual violation of each other dignity and honour does not happen and illegitimate relationship does not happen with suddenness. There are pretexts to illegitimate relationship. So Zina of eyes are to look at non-Mahram and Zina of hands are to touch inappropriately. So sexual harassments and comments and gauging on others – opposite sex is one of the violations, is one of the pretexts to Zina and eventual illegitimate relationship of Zina happens when there are all the pretexts there.

 

“When a Governor of Iraq was falsely accused of certain things to taint his reputations, he made a dua against the person that O Allah, is this person is wrong and he is seeking just a prominence by accusing the people in the power. O Allah, put him through trials and tribulations. That person was cursed with the dua of Saad ibn Rabbi Radhiallahu Anhu and he used to be walking in the streets of Qufa – with all sorts of lewd things and saying to the people that I am the curse of Saad ibn Rabbi.

 

“Protection of honour which is one of the five Muqasids of Shri’ah should be protected by all measures – protective measures, by deterrent measures, punishment and other appropriate actions and the law and order enforcement agencies are looking and developing things to protect each others’ privacy and protect the honour of each other and not to use the public space to harm each other and taint their reputations. Because violating each others’ privacy and tainting the honour is among the Hukuk of human rights and human rights are based on negotiations and anybody who violates others rights is deserved the appropriate deterrent and punishments.

 

“As in the Farewell Sermon Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam has declared that in this most sacred place at the most sacred day as it is sacred, sacredness extent to all security of the people to their blood, to their honour, to their property, to their belief system. Those who play with other peoples’ reputation and honour did their privacy and taint them by words and actions in public and private, they should think about their own extended family, their own relatives. If it is to their own sisters, their own mother or their own aunties, if they would like to their own family members honour or dignity violated or cursed or tainted as people do with each other

 

“As it is reported in a story that a young person asked Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam to allow him to have an illegitimate relationship or Zina with others, so Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam convinced him that would you like this illegitimate relationship to be maintained with your own family members, yours sisters, your mother, or your aunties. He said, no. Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam said, why do you wish others to allow you to have illegitimate relationship  when you do not wish for your own family.

 

“Let us ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala to give us barakah and understanding and adherence to the commandments of Allah and Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam. May Allah forgive us all our public and private violations because Allah is only Who can forgive all our sins.

 

Second Part

“Indeed, all praise belongs to Allah and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam and his family and his companions and those who followed him till the Day of Judgement. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala urges us to maintain higher standard of morality and abstinence from any illegitimate gauge or relationship as Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says that those who are not married they should keep themselves protected until they can afford to get married and have legitimate relationship. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says that those who do not expect to have relationship and married invitation, they can leave some of their hijabs but if they take hijabs it would be better for them. Still Allah urges all the men and women to keep their gauge lower and protect their honour and their abstinence and their riswa.

 

“We are all subjects of accounting on the Day of Judgement in front of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala. We do not know whether our Book of Deed will be in our right hand or on the left hand. So I will urge all the Muslims to observe each other’s dignity honour and privacy and do not seek any illegitimate relationship. There is a story that one of the shahabis said I think I can show you one woman of Jannah – there was this black lady who used to have some leprosy or some illness; She came to Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam to ask for dua, seek for dua to be cured; Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam said, If you want I can make dua foryou; but if you want you can be patient and Jannah is guaranteed for you. She said, yes O Rasulullah I am happy with it but can you make a dua that I should not get exposing public when I am in my situation.

 

“Look at this lady who was very conscious of her dignity her privacy. She at least ask Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam to make dua that even in her worst situation she should not be exposed publicly. As Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala urges through Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam that O Rasul tell Muslim men and women to keep their gauges low and keep their private parts safe from the illegitimate relationship. Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala urges us and wishes us pure and tranquil and peaceful relationship and legitimate relationship and not any public or illegitimate relationship.

 

Dua and Supplication

“Let us pray for the peace and blessings on Muhammad Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam as Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has urged. O Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala send peace and blessings on Muhammad Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam and his family and his companions, especially his four Caliphs and all the other companions and then who follow Rasulullah Sallallahu  Alaihey Wa Sallam till the Day of Judgement. O Allah, we ask from Your Generosity and from Your Abundance Mercy. O Allah, honour Islam and Muslims and support Your obedient servant. O Allah deliver us from the pandemic and all the illnesses which we are suffering. O Allah, forgive all our people who have passed away and those who are living, give them Tawfiq to be recovered and live as according to Islam and following the pleasure of Yourself.

 

“O Allah, save us from all the inappropriate actions and sayings. O Allah, empower our servants – he Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and his deputies and all administrative staff to give them Tawfiq and empower them to work for the betterment of the country and the public. O Allah, give us goodness in this world and the Hereafter and protect us from all the unpleasant outcomes.

 

Allah wishes us to be thankful and He will give us more and Allah knows all we are doing. Let us seek forgiveness and Mercy, Sheikh Saud al-Shurain concluded his Khutbah.

 

Acknowledgement

Courtesy: @Islam Channel, U.K.

 

 

 

 

 

Kashmir Situation Debated in British Parliament

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

 

Labour Member for Luton North Sarah Owen has secured this important debate on the Political Situation in Kashmir which took place at Westminster Hall in the British Parliament on Wednesday, 13 January 2021.

 

Sarah Owen MP for Luton North

Starting the debate under the chairmanship of Philip Davies, Sarah Owen mentioned, “The lockdown of 2019 shut off entire communities and their communications to the outside world. Around 7 million people have been silenced and cut off. There were families worried about loved ones. Students studying in Luton were unable to get fees paid by parents in Kashmir, as banking ceased. There are curfews to control people lives, not a virus—a lockdown enforced by half a million soldiers.

 

Labour Member for Luton North said, “When Narendra Modi stripped Kashmir of its autonomy and statehood in August 2019, he also cancelled Kashmiris’ rights to land and jobs. Along with the loss of rights came the loss of dreams for so many. It has also laid bare the true motivation for such a removal of freedoms for the entire world to see—see, yet say nothing about, and, in most cases unfortunately, do nothing about as well.”

 

Sarah Owen said, “As with all war, sadly, women are the silent casualties. The situation in Kashmir is no different. There are numerous reports of Kashmiri women and girls being raped. Senior officials in the Bharatiya Janata party have put on record their intentions to make Kashmiri women a part of the conflict. The Chief Minister of Haryana said:

“Some people are now saying that as Kashmir is open, brides will be brought from there. But jokes apart, if [the gender] ratio is improved, then there will be a right balance in society”.

That is appalling. I have heard from women in Kashmir who are terrified of being assaulted by the thousands of soldiers on their doorstep. Women fear for their lives and do not feel safe.”

 

Labour Member for Luton North said, “We often hear about the UK’s commitment to women’s rights, but will the Minister’s actions match the rhetoric? What guarantees can he give that rape claims in asylum cases from Kashmiri women will be taken seriously by his colleagues at the Home Office, especially after the worrying reports from Women Against Rape that thousands of asylum-seeking women were either disbelieved out of hand or not routinely asked if they had suffered sexual violence in asylum interviews? I sincerely hope that changes.”

 

Sarah Owen MP for Luton North raised the question, “I want to raise with the Minister an issue not often discussed regarding Kashmir, but which is incredibly important in the world we live in. What are the Government doing to tackle the use of social media sites, in particular WhatsApp, which are used to stoke the flames of division and further weaponise Islamophobia in the region? Online communication is now part of modern-day warfare. We regularly see states and leaders—not just Trump—use online propaganda as part of their arsenal. On the flip side, Kashmiris’ freedom of speech online is suffocated to the point that any criticism of the Indian Government risks terrorism charges. Will the Minister commit to work internationally on online propaganda, fake news, the spread of racism and the measures taken to silence news coming from Kashmir?

 

“The fight for Kashmiris to determine their own future is now decades-long, and that outcome looks further from reality than ever before. I wish we were here to talk about what the future of Kashmir could look like—how its people could rightly shape and be in charge of their own destiny. What would come next? However, given the current political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, it is clear that we are a long way from realising that hope. Until the people of Kashmir have the most fundamental of all human rights—to live safely and to be free from fear—we must, and we will, continue to stand with the people of Kashmir. I say to Kashmiris, whether in Kashmir or in Luton North, you have not only my solidarity, but my enduring friendship and commitment to keep fighting until your human rights are protected, now and in the future,” mentioned the Labour Member for Luton North Sarah Owen.

 

Labour Member for Bradford

West, Naz Shah

Labour Member for Bradford West, Naz Shah took part in the debate and she gave a brief historical background of the political situation in Kashmir. Labour Member for Bradford West, Naz Shah said, “In 1945, the world set up the United Nations, with peace, justice and international co-operation in mind. At the signing of the UN charter, which was signed by 50 nations, including ours, President Truman famously said:

 

“If we had had this Charter a few years ago—and above all, the will to use it—millions now dead would be alive. If we should falter in the future in our will to use it, millions now living will surely die.”

 

For Members across this House and to those who listen to my words after this debate, the charter lives on today but, tragically for the people of Kashmir, the will to use it does not.”

 

She continued, “UN Security Council resolution 47, which provides for the right of a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir, has existed since 1948. The will to implement still does not. Seventy-four years on, the trajectory for the people of Kashmir is leading to a future far from a right of self-determination and closer to one of non-existence. But let us put history to one side for a second. In 2019, India unilaterally revoked article 370, removing the special status of Kashmir, outrightly defying the United Nations resolution, setting back previously agreed international resolutions such as the Simla agreement, arresting Kashmiri political leaders, enforcing curfews, implementing a media blackout, and denying internationally agreed principles of human rights for Kashmiri people. I ask this House and our Government: apart from the words of condemnation, what else do the people of Kashmir get?

 

Naz Shah MP for Bradford West mentioned, “From the start of 2010 to the 2019 siege, the Kashmiri people have been shut off from the entire world—occupied by more than 600,000 Indian soldiers, in the largest military operation in the world; Kashmiri women targeted for rape; 250 Kashmiris killed; 1,500 injured; 657 houses destroyed; 4,815 cordon and search operations during the past one year alone; political leaders under house arrest and put through kangaroo courts; thousands of non-Kashmiri Hindus of India issued with domicile certificates; and the Indian Government proactively changing the very demographics of Kashmir, leading only to a path of ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri people. Without the UN rapporteurs allowed into the region, and with every report out of the region censored, how can anyone assure this House that a genocide in Kashmir is not taking place?”

 

Labour Member for Bradford West Naz Shah mentioned, “From 2015 to last year, Britain sold more than half a billion pounds-worth of arms to India, which will contribute to shedding the blood of the Kashmiri people. Without the reassurances from the UN, we cannot be sure that we are not contributing to a genocide. As a proud daughter of Kashmir, I simply ask the Minister whether the Prime Minister, who has now cancelled his visit to India, will follow on and cancel the shipment of arms to India? We do not need international leaders and Governments protesting with words; we have activists on the streets for that. We need international leaders and Governments with the will to take action and stop genocide taking place. The time to act is now. Will the Minister act now while there is still time, or history will not be so forgiving?”