Srinagar, May 11 : Expressing grave concern over the plight of political prisoners in and outside Jammu and Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Saturday said while the universal declaration of human rights provides a clear guideline for the erstwhile governments of its state members, India “brazenly” denies the same rights to the political prisoners of Kashmir.
In a statement issued to media, Geelani while terming the Government of India’s attitude as political vendetta said Kashmir is a pure political issue which can be settled according to the aspirations of the people by allowing right to self-determination.
Military solutions never last long and in presence of a million forces, Kashmir has been turned into a hell-like jail where people suffer and live in a suffocated environment, he said.
He also condemned the use of “brute” force against the people, especially the youth at Jamia Masjid Srinagar on the eve of first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan.
Pushing youth to the wall shall have grave consequences for which state administration would be responsible, he said.
The Hurriyat (G) chairman expressed solidarity with all the pro-freedom prisoners languishing in jails in and outside Kashmir.
“Even during the holy month of Ramadan, the detenues are kept in solitary confinement in small cells without basic amenities, unhygienic food and insufficient medical facilities have rendered the detenues to suffer miserably,” he said.
Geelani appealed the United Nations Human Rights Commission, International Red Cross, Amnesty International to visit the Indian jails and have on spot observations of the “ill treatment and heinous violations of prisoners’ rights”.
