Images of #StandWithKashmir protests across the U.K.: Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, London.

The Syrian Arab Spring contingent at the NYC #StandWithKashmir rally.

(Photo from Omawi Aseel)

National Demonstration for Kashmir from London on 10th Aug 2019:

Maybe some wonder why all these strangers from Ohio, McAllen, Bellevue, Gaza, Manchester, Toronto, Berlin, London, Lahore, Delhi, NYC, DC, & elsewhere give a damn about Kashmiris. What’s it to us what happens to them? Well there’s a whole raft of reasons, including primarily the justice of Kashmir’s right to self-determination & their struggle against colonialism & occupation. There’s also the problem of India’s relationship with Israel & its conflict with Pakistan that could set off a war in the region that would involve the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people. But it’s also because a Kashmiri alliance with Palestinians, Rohingya, Uyghur, Syrians, Afghans, Yemenis, Iraqis, & others would change the course of human history.

A victory for any on the front lines of oppression, especially a victory against the merciless hatred incited against Muslims, would strengthen the struggles of the oppressed around the world, would hearten them in their own struggles, would weaken the forces of oppression. It’s also worth mentioning that Kashmiris have long been exemplary in standing up for the oppressed despite the occupation they sustained. But maybe the biggest reason of all is that no human being is alien to us. An injury to one is an injury to all. Je suis human ergo je suis Kashmiri.

A quite cogent article on calling Indian colonialism & occupation of Kashmir a genocide, a term often used without hesitation by Kashmiri activists. The abrogation of Article 370 suggests they ‘knew whereof they spoke’.

http://theconversation.com/call-the-crime-in-kashmir-by-its-name-ongoing-genocide-120412?

More photos of the #StandWithKashmir rally in Bellevue, Washington organized by Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle. Whatever one may think about the role of the Pakistani government regarding Kashmir, Pakistanis are protesting in large numbers in Pakistan & have been an integral part of protests elsewhere expressing a strong commitment to Kashmiri self-determination & to #Azaadi.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/PakistanAssociationOfGreaterSeattle/photos/?UCH-R

Shutting down telecommunications so that Kashmiris outside Kashmir are unable to contact their family members living in a war zone is a human, democratic, civil rights, & war crime under the rubric of “cruel & unusual punishment.”

Because of the telecommunications lockdown in Kashmir, it’s very hard to know which photos, videos, & media reports are reliable. We don’t have resident Kashmiris on social media to confirm for us what is real & have to rely on Kashmiris outside Kashmir based on their familiarity with events. There are foreign & Indian reporters in Kashmir who, according to this article, are filing very different accounts of what is happening. What we do know from reliable accounts is that there are scattered protests including the one of thousands yesterday, the Indian Army is using excessive force against them, including with pellet guns & rubber bullets, & that despite the massive repression of human, democratic, & civil rights, the Kashmiri spirit of #Azaadi is undaunted.

Our commitment is to remain steadfast & continue to organize a #StandWithKashmir political response demanding India immediately & unconditionally withdraw all its troops & immediately release all Kashmiri political prisoners.

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/kashmir-situation-protests-sringar-media-normalcy-article-370-women?

Zachariah Barghouti, representative of Palestinian Youth Movement, speaking at the NYC #StandWithKashmir rally.