This is a video of Kashmir’s youngest pellet gun victim, Hiba Jan, who was struck in the eye while at home & has lost the vision in her right eye as a result. There are thousands of Kashmiris who have been permanently blinded, disabled, disfigured, & left with lifelong pain & suffering because of pellet guns. The lead pellets often cannot be removed from internal organs. Keep in mind that they are illegal in India except for hunting, pest control, recreational shooting, & competitive sports. In Kashmir, the Indian Army uses them against unarmed protesters but many victims, like little Hiba, other children, & elderly, were in their homes or yards or just nearby when soldiers indiscriminately shoot.

https://www.thequint.com/videos/youngest-pellet-victim-mother-on-kashmir-conflict?fbclid=IwAR2qramWY2CeN0p6AL20-3vmlodjnQbjNU-fLbYsgYBZ9_NpoPkdu2uI3bI

Wellington, New Zealand #StandWithKashmir rally, September 26, 2019:

“Thank you everyone who came to Wellington to show support for kashmir. All those people who took a day off from work, family and social commitments, you have today become the voice of kashmiri people who are not allowed to speak, who are living in a communications black hole , who’s future is being dictated by their opressor. I would like to thanks Golriz Ghahraman MP for receiving the petition that kashmiri community and friends of kashmiri community in NZ have presented . We all urge Indian government to lift the siege on 8 million people, we urge them to respect and implement UN resolution regarding kashmir. We , kashmiris have suffered enough , we want resolution of Jammu and kashmir , as per the wishes of all the people of the region. A peaceful solution can not be reached by caging the inhabitants of a place and imposing restrictions on them , that’s what dictatorships do , it’s contrary to the ideals of democracy .”

“What kind of a nation is this?
Dealing with love like a policeman
Considering the rose
A conspiracy against the system…”

~ Nizar Qabbani, Syrian

I apologize (again) for getting so far behind in updating my blog. Events in Kashmir & Syria have made me remiss & I hope to catch up & correct this in the next few days.