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Birmingham streets reverberated with free Kashmir slogans
Birmingham, August 16 (KMS): Thousands of Pakistanis and Kashmiris took to the streets of various cities of the UK and Europe to commemorate 15th August, India’s Independence Day, as Kashmir’s Black Day on the call of Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK and Europe.
The largest Kashmir March was held in Birmingham. Thousands of Kashmiris and their sympathizers gathered outside Birmingham City Council and marched towards the Indian consulate. The protesters chanted slogans against Indian occupation and brutalities while shaming India’s fake democracy.
President Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, Fahim Kayani, presented a resolution adopted by the organisers that emphasized resolution of the Kashmir dispute according to the United Nations resolutions to bring an end to the gross human rights violations and restoration of civil liberties. It also called for release of all illegally detained Kashmiri political prisoners.
Member of British Parliament (MP), Tahir Ali reaffirmed his commitment to continue highlighting the Kashmir dispute at every level, and representing the suppressed voices from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Former Member of European parliament (MEP) Phil Bennion praised TeK’s commitment to unity and persistence in presenting the cause of Kashmir while condemning the brutal Indian BJP regime.
Shaista Safi from IIOJK reminded the protestors the consequences of occupation, subjugation and oppression, highlighting the role of women in the occupied territory as well as their sufferings.
World Kashmir Freedom Movement (WKFM) President Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur stressed on the important role of diaspora to represent the ground narrative by using every resource available, particularly social media.
While addressing the march, Carol Turner of Stop the War Coalition said India cannot be a democracy while subjugating the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jae Robinson, Chair Unite Community Birmingham; Ian Scott, President Birmingham Trade Council; Fazal Ahmed Qadari, Patron-in-Chief All Parties Kashmir International Coordination Committee (APKICC); Khawaja Muhammad Suleman, founding member of TeK UK; Mushtaq Hussain, Coordinator of the march TeK-UK; Stuart Richardson of STWC, Yousaf Farooq, Youth leader of TeK-UK, and Aleeza Haini Mehmood, Youth leader of TeK-UK, condemned the barbarity perpetuated by the fascist Modi government in IIOJK and supported the call for giving the Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
Before marching towards the Indian consulate, President of TeK-Europe Muhammad Ghalib thanked all participants and pledged to keep alive the sacrifices of the people in IIOJK by regularly holding events on key dates in Kashmir’s history.
Holding placards and banners highlighting the atrocities in IIOJK, protestors chanted freedom slogans and condemned the Indian occupation and its machinery.
Rehana Ali, Information Secretary TeK-UK, led the Kashmir protest outside the Indian High Commission in London. Hafiz Muhammad Azad, Secretary General TeK-UK led the Kashmir car rally in Bradford. Farooq Baig, Secretary General TeK-Germany, led the Kashmir protest in Bremen. Adeel Ahmed, President TeK-Denmark, led the Kashmir protest in Copenhagen.
