Istanbul University Organizes Two-Day Webinar on Kashmir
By Ghulam-Nabi Fai
Istanbul: A two-day International Kashmir Webinar was organized by the Department of Urdu, Istanbul University, on June 29–30, 2020.
The participants unanimously adopted the following declaration at the end of the conference:
1. That there must be an early, just and durable resolution to the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
2. The United Nations Security Council had clearly enunciated that on the basis of the agreement concluded between India and Pakistan, “the final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.”
3. The participants welcome the statement of Mr Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General that the position of the United Nations is to settle the Kashmir dispute according to the United Nations Charter and available Security Council resolutions.
4. They also welcome the reiteration of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that “Turkey is in favor of resolving the Kashmir issue by taking into consideration the expectations of our Kashmiri brothers, through dialogue based on UN resolutions. Turkey will continue to stand by justice, peace and dialogue in the resolution of the Kashmir issue and Turkey will continue to raise its voice against the oppression.”
5. They further welcome the report of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights that India “fully respect the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir as protected under international law.”
6. They condemn the Indian government's recent attempts at changing the demographic status by introducing the tendentious and politically motivated ‘Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules 2020.” Its aim is to alter the demographic character of the Muslim-majority territory at a time when the world's attention is focused on the worst public health and economic crises of our times because of Covid-19.
7. The participants condemn the serious crimes against humanity committed by the Indian military and paramilitary forces in Jammu & Kashmir. These crimes include genocide, massacres, extrajudicial killings, reprisal killings, arbitrary detention, torture, use of rape as a weapon of war, burning of houses, etc.
8. The participants condemned the efforts to muzzle the press and further expressed the need to restore the right to assemble and freedom of expression.
9. They demand that the Thematic Rapporteurs on Torture and Extrajudicial Killings and the Chairmen of the Working Group on Disappearances and Arbitrary Detention be allowed to visit Jammu & Kashmir to ascertain and report on gross and consistent violations of human rights there.
10. They demand the repeal of draconian laws, like, the Indian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSAPA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), etc.
11. They demand the release of all political prisoners languishing in jails, interrogation centers and detained under emergency laws.
12. They call on the United Nations Secretary General to appoint a special envoy on Kashmir and initiate a process of mediation to pave the way for the holding of a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as laid down by the UN Security Council resolutions.
13. They also call on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to renew to the Government of India its offer of sending its fact-finding and good offices missions to Jammu and Kashmir.
List of speakers at the International Kashmir Webinar:
Professor (Dr.) Halil Toker, Chief Organizer & Head, Department of Urdu, Istanbul University
Professor (Dr.) Mahmut Ak, Rector, Istanbul University
Professor (Dr.) Hayati Develi, Dean, Faculty of Letter
Hon. Ali Sahin, Member of Parliament, Turkish Grand Assembly
Hon. Sardar Masood Khan, President, Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Hon. Shibli Faraz, Federal Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Pakistan
Hon. Lord Nazir Ahmed, Member, British House of Lords, U.K.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum
Mr. Zafar Ahmed, Chairman, Kashmir Campaign Global, U.K.
Mr. Javid Siddiq, Resident Editor, Nawa-e-Waqat, Islamabad
Mr. Salman Khan, Founding Chairman, South African Kashmir Action Group
Dr. Imtiaz Khan, Professor at George Washington University Medical Center
Ms. Merve Sebnem Oruc, Daily Sabah, Turkey
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Mir, President, World Kashmir Awareness Forum
Mr. Riza Yasar, ON4Television, Turkey
Hon. Bilal Khan Pasha, Consulate General of Pakistan, Istanbul
Dr. Farooq Adil, Journalist & Writer, Islamabad
Dr. Mubeen Shah, Former Chairman Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, Srinagar
Dr. Khalid Rehman, Executive President, Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad
Dr. Waleed Rasool, Professor, International Islamic University, Islamabad
Mr. Muhammad Tahir Tabassum, President, INSPAD, Islamabad
Mr. Raja Muhammad Sajjad, Chief Editor, Kashmir Today, Muzaffarabad
Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Representative, Tehreek-e-Hurriyet, Islamabad
Professor (Dr.) Muhammet Savas Kafkasyali, Institute of Strategic Thinking, Turkey
Mr. Atif Ozbey, kanal 5, Genel Yaayin Coordinator, Turkey
Mr. Emre Tuna, Bolgesel Kalkinma Uzmani, Turkey
Mr. Ismail Bendiderya, Arastirmaci Yazar, Turkey
Professor (Dr.) Zekai Kardas, Istanbul University
Dr. Ashraf Jamal, Istanbul University
Mr. Ahmet Tekin, emcee of the Conference, Istanbul
Mr. Onur Kilicer, Organizing Committee, Istanbul
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