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Tazeen Hasan produced this personal narrative on behalf of Sehar Shah based on her one-to-one communication with Shah. Shah's postings on Facebook and Twitter have also been used for details.
My name is Sehar Shabir Shah, and I am the daughter of the renowned "Prisoner of Conscience," Shabir Ahmad Shah, who has endured a staggering 36 years of his life behind bars. Our lives have been marked by constant struggles and challenges, but nothing could have prepared us for the events that unfolded ahead of the G20 summit. It was a seemingly ordinary day when chaos erupted. Troops, comprising the army, Special Forces, and black cat commandos, descended upon our peaceful abode around 6:00 p.m. Their presence was overwhelming, as armored vehicles blocked off the bypass and effectively isolated our entire neighborhood. In the midst of it all, our helper sought solace in her room, completely unaware of the impending intrusion. The troops forcefully smashed down the gate of our kitchen garden, hopping over walls, and brazenly entering our home through that very same entrance. At the time, my mother was engaged in the evening Asr prayer. The sound of the doorbell interrupted her devotions, but she was unable to immediately attend to it. With each passing minute, the clamor outside intensified. By the time she reached the gate, roughly 20 to 25 heavily armed men had already breached our house's defenses. Scaling walls and jumping inside, they instilled fear with their imposing presence. The troops began shouting at my mother as she cautiously opened the lobby door, demanding to know who else was present in the house. Despite her assurances that she was alone, they persisted, barking their questions and demanding more information. Eventually, they barged inside, their boots resounding against the floors, meticulously scouring every nook and cranny, leaving a trail of disorder in their wake. My mother accompanied a few soldiers who ascended to the top level of our house, while the rest scoured the ground floor and other rooms. It was heart-wrenching to witness the destruction they wrought upon our once-serene dining room. Furnishings were ruthlessly dismantled, and possessions were callously scattered, rendering the room unrecognizable. The aftermath of their search left our rooms in utter disarray. Every wardrobe lay open, and belongings were carelessly strewn about. The sight of the chaos and devastation was deeply unsettling. My sense of disgust grew as I surveyed the wreckage that now plagued our home. Before departing, the troops made their intentions clear. They intimidated my mother with threats of a return visit, leaving her shaken and unsettled. Fortunately, we had installed CCTV cameras throughout our residence, capturing every moment of this harrowing ordeal. Determined to document the full extent of their intrusion, I meticulously photographed the rooms and the mess they left behind. The attached CCTV footage and images serve as a testament to the violation we endured on that fateful day. They bear witness to the destruction inflicted upon our home, forever etching this traumatic experience into our collective memory. Through sharing our story, I hope to shed light on the immense challenges faced by families like ours, who bear the burden of political persecution. It is my fervent desire that justice prevails, that those responsible for the raid are held accountable, and that no other family must endure the same anguish that has befallen ours. For 36 long years, my father has been unjustly held in arbitrary detention imposed by the Indian government, without ever facing conviction in a single case. Every passing day, my heart aches as I wait for the day when I can embrace my aging and gravely ill father once more. The raid on our home, with its brutal intrusion and wanton destruction, only adds to the weight of my longing. It is a painful reminder of the injustice that has plagued our lives for far too long. As I pick up the shattered remnants of our belongings, I can't help but feel the weight of uncertainty pressing upon me. How much longer must I endure this separation from my beloved father? #Kashmir #Prisoners_of_Conscience #G20_in_Kashmir Rotten Apples, the Systematic Destruction of Kashmir's Economy and United Nations Millennium Goals5/27/2023  Tazeen Hasan sheds light on the deliberate destruction of the apple crop, a devastating blow to the economic backbone of Kashmiris. In doing so, she exposes it as one of the numerous genocidal tactics employed by the Indian settler colonial regime in Kashmir.
The Indian settler colonial regime in Kashmir persistently employs genocidal tactics against the Kashmiri population. One such strategy involves purposefully targeting apple farmers and individuals affiliated with the apple business, effectively dismantling their economic backbone. Additionally, this brutal settler colonial action has grave ramifications for the environment. According to reports in the Indian media and Kashmiri sources affiliated with Justice For All Canada, the Indian army obstructed the Jammu-Srinagar road during the apple harvesting season in the autumn of 2022, causing the apples to decay in the stranded trucks. Indian channel NDTV confirmed that while other vehicles were allowed to pass, trucks carrying apples were specifically halted. Hence, this was a deliberate and systematic policy rather than an unintentional natural disaster or calamity. With 3.5 million Kashmiris relying on apple farming and business, this ruthless settler colonial policy inflicted significant damage on a population already enduring lockdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic since 2019. This action was so brutal that Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and a former coalition partner of the BJP, felt compelled to issue a statement alleging that the halting of trucks on the highway was a deliberate attempt to subject the people of Kashmir to suffering. Since 2019, Kashmiri farmers have been grappling with economic hardships, struggling to provide for their families. The apple harvesting season in 2022, however, held the promise of a bountiful income due to an exceptionally abundant apple crop. Nonetheless, the deliberate disruption of transportation shattered their hopes and plunged them deeper into poverty and hunger. With 3.5 million Kashmiris depending on the apple harvest for their livelihoods, the intentional disruption during the peak season poses a grave threat to their economic stability and well-being. Moreover, this action led to the fruits deteriorating and emitting methane gas. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, significantly contributes to global warming and climate change. The decomposition of organic matter, such as rotting apples, produces methane, which, when released into the atmosphere, exacerbates environmental concerns. The unchecked emission of methane from the decaying apples during the blockade poses risks to local air quality. The long-term consequences of this blockade are even more hazardous. According to experts, methane is approximately 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide, making it a significant contributor to climate change. By allowing the apples to rot and emit methane gas, the blockade not only harms the immediate environment but also intensifies the long-term challenges posed by global warming. This underscores the urgency of addressing the repercussions of these settler colonial policies, both in terms of the economy and the environment, to prevent further harm to the well-being of the people of Kashmir and the planet as a whole. The deliberate release of methane gas, both from natural sources and human activities such as agricultural practices, waste management, and fossil fuel extraction, exacerbates the warming effect on the atmosphere. As global temperatures rise, glaciers continue to shrink, setting off a dangerous feedback loop. The melting of glaciers exposes darker surfaces underneath, such as rock and soil, which then absorb more sunlight and further contribute to global warming. Furthermore, the thriving apple crop in Kashmir necessitates significant amounts of water for irrigation, making efficient water resource management crucial. However, the blockade resulted in the wastage of precious water resources that were utilized to nurture the apple orchards. As the apples remained trapped in the halted trucks, the water used for their growth and maintenance went to waste. This not only deprives the local population of a vital resource but also emphasizes the need for sustainable water management practices to ensure the long-term viability of agricultural activities in the region. In summary, the blockade has dire consequences for the local economy and the environment. The deliberate disruption of the Kashmiri local economy raises concerns about a systematic plan aimed at impoverishing and starving the Kashmiri population. It is crucial for global institutions like the United Nations and its relevant agencies to address these issues, protect the livelihoods of millions, and promote sustainable practices that ensure the well-being of both the environment and the people of Kashmir. Ensuring environmental sustainability and eradicating poverty and hunger are two of the eight Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. The UN and relevant agencies need to take urgent and decisive action against such settler colonial policies of the Indian occupation regime in Indian-administered Kashmir. Introduction:
The upcoming G20 meeting for the tourism working group presents a unique opportunity for nations to collaborate and discuss the development of sustainable tourism. While the environment is a major agenda item for the G20 in 2023, it is ironic that unrestricted religious tourism in Kashmir is causing significant damage to the local environment, as highlighted by experts. This essay will shed light on the concerning issue of environmental genocide in Kashmir, particularly focusing on the destructive impact of the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage on the Kolahai glacier and the implications for the livelihoods of the Kashmiri population. The Warning Ignored: As early as 1996, Indian environmentalists had cautioned the government about the need to restrict the number of tourists participating in the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage. They warned that the increasing influx of pilgrims would have a detrimental effect on the Kolahai glacier, which serves as the primary water source for several rivers in the region. Unfortunately, despite these warnings from environmental and climate change experts, the Indian government did not take adequate measures to limit the number of pilgrims. In fact, Hindutva groups actively campaigned to increase the pilgrimage, leading to an exponential rise in participants. Consequently, the Kolahai glacier has lost 23 percent of its area over the past three decades. The Intentional Destruction: The destruction of the Kolahai glacier, a vital lifeline for the Kashmiri people, cannot be seen as a mere coincidence. The majority of Kashmiris rely on the Jehlum river for their agricultural needs, which provides livelihoods for approximately 70 percent of the population. The intentional neglect and disregard for the environmental impact of unrestricted religious tourism is tantamount to an environmental genocide against the people of Kashmir. By allowing the exploitation of this fragile ecosystem, the authorities are endangering the survival of the Kashmiri population, as their agricultural practices heavily depend on the availability of glacial water. The Role of G20 Tourism Working Group: The G20 Tourism Working Group holds a significant responsibility to address the issue of environmental genocide in Kashmir. While promoting sustainable tourism is a key objective, it is essential to ensure that tourism activities are not hazardous to the environment and the local communities. The destruction of glaciers and the resultant environmental damage in Kashmir must be a crucial topic of discussion during the G20 meeting. It is imperative to explore strategies and policies that prioritize the protection of the environment, the preservation of natural resources, and the sustainable development of tourism in the region. Conclusion: The environmental genocide unfolding in Kashmir due to unrestricted religious tourism demands immediate attention from the G20 Tourism Working Group. The destructive impact of the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage on the Kolahai glacier, the lifeline of the Kashmiri people, cannot be ignored. It is the responsibility of the G20 member nations to discuss and advocate for sustainable tourism practices that prioritize the preservation of the environment and the well-being of local communities. By addressing the environmental genocide in Kashmir, the G20 can play a pivotal role in promoting responsible tourism and ensuring a sustainable future for all. Tazeen Hassan, Campaign Manager.  April 25th, 2023
Tazeen Hasan commenting on the Irony of G20's Climate Change Agenda and unchecked Environmental Genocide in Kashmir The G20 is one of the most influential global platforms where leaders from the world's largest economies come together to discuss and coordinate on various issues. One of the key items on the agenda for G20 2023 is Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE. However, it is ironic that the meeting is being held in Jammu and Kashmir, a region where an environmental genocide is taking place. The melting of Himalayan glaciers in Kashmir, caused by unrestricted religious tourism, is causing harm to the environment and is leading to the displacement of millions of people. The meeting taking place in May in Kashmir is about the Tourism working group. While climate change is a top agenda item in the G20, Indian environmentalists have recommended that India should restrict religious tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. This is because unrestricted tourism is causing Kolahai and other glaciers to melt at an alarmingly faster rate. Reports show that Himalayan glaciers in Kashmir are melting twice as fast as other Himalayan glaciers, which is leading to environmental genocide for the Kashmiri people who rely on glacier water for 70% of their needs. The Indian government's criminal ignorance of the damage caused to the environment in Kashmir is concerning. Despite several reports and recommendations by environmentalists, the government is allowing tourism to continue unchecked. Moreover, the government is holding meetings related to climate change in a region where environmental genocide is taking place. The irony is that the G20 is focusing on climate change, while it is holding meetings in a region where environmental destruction is occurring. It is essential for the G20 leaders to acknowledge the severity of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and take steps to address the issue. It is not enough to discuss climate change while ignoring the environmental destruction taking place in the region. The Indian government must take responsibility for the damage caused to the environment in Jammu and Kashmir. They must acknowledge the recommendations made by environmentalists and take steps to reduce unrestricted tourism in the region. If the Indian government fails to take action, the G20 leaders must take the initiative and boycott meetings held in Jammu and Kashmir. It is time for the world to recognize the environmental genocide taking place in Kashmir and take necessary action to prevent it. April 20th, 2023
Written by Editorial Team As grassroots activists, we cannot ignore the lack of Kashmiri representation as India-hosted G20 meetings began in Kashmir this week. The G20 kicked off its Y20 youth meetings in Jammu, located in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. One glaring absence was any representation or input from local Kashmiri populations. This lack of representation is concerning—especially as Kashmir’s civil society remains impacted by ongoing human rights violations and numerous challenges in advocating for their rights on the international stage. For instance, ongoing instability and internet shutdowns have hit the education system hard. Teachers struggle to maintain lessons or communicate with their students. India’s Hindu nationalist government has cracked down on dissent and independent voices in Kashmir, resulting in fear and uncertainty in the education system. Teachers are now afraid to discuss sensitive topics in the classroom. The G20 is also a missed opportunity to raise the alarm on the mass detention of human rights defenders in Kashmir. Activists encounter threats, harassment, and intimidation simply for conducting peaceful advocacy. You don’t need to look further than Shabir Shah and Khurram Parvez—both prisoners of conscience and victims of free speech under India’s BJP government. Government authorities also employ various measures to suppress their voices, like restricted movement. Kashmiri protesters risk frequent arrest and detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (1978), which allows administrative detention without charge or trial for up to two years. The G20 presented an ideal opportunity for such concerns to be addressed. As we conduct our advocacy work, we cannot imagine how helpless Kashmiris must feel without the ability to engage with international human rights organizations and have their voices heard on the G20’s global stage. As we reflect on missed opportunities for Kashmiri representation, we shift our focus to the world's largest economies participating in the G20 summit this year. It’s not enough for G20 members to focus on economic matters while ignoring the blatant inequalities and abuses in Kashmir. These countries have a legal and moral responsibility to demand Kashmiris be allowed to participate in global forums—especially meetings held directly on their lands. As the G20 moves forward in 2023, we’ll learn which leaders prioritize human rights versus economic interests and which states don’t. Leaders who subscribe to international human rights norms are responsible for demanding Kashmiris have a seat at the G20 table. Failure to do this sends a message that the realities and lived experiences of Kashmiris are not valued, and that they are not welcome in shared spaces meant for discourse and diplomacy. Don’t Stop Now
 Justice For All Canada attended the 7th Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development (EMRTD) session in New York on April 3rd, 2023. Campaign Manager Tazeen Hassan contributed to the panel by discussing ongoing military occupation and human rights violations committed by the Indian government in Kashmir, including the impact on the region’s environment and sustainable development. Watch the address here.
My name is Tazeen Hassan and I'm from Justice For All Canada. While this session focused on the right to development including the environment, I would like to draw the attention of this esteemed panel to an important human rights issue related to the environment. The environmentally damaging aspect of the conflict and occupation is a serious human rights issue that policymakers have yet to address. An environmental catastrophe almost equivalent to genocide is affecting 10 to 40 million people in Indian-administered Kashmir and the surrounding region. The glaciers in Indian-administered Kashmir are melting at a twofold faster rate than the glaciers in other parts of the world. This poses a serious threat to the region's water security, and is an existential crisis for the Kashmiri population, 70% of whom rely on agriculture. Regrettably, this environmental disaster is not primarily a result of the natural or anthropogenic activity of the indigenous Kashmiri population, but an inevitable consequence of the deployment of over half a million occupational troops. Since the late 1980s, the deployment of these troops has taken a significant toll on Kashmir's ecology, while the Indian government has allowed unrestricted religious tourism, exacerbating the problem. As a result of these policies, the Kolahoi Glacier, the largest in the region and the primary source for the Jhelum River, has lost 23% of its area in the last three decades. While the Siachen Glacier has lost half of its area since 1984, the destruction of glaciers is no less damaging than a nuclear war, despite the Kashmir region being a bone of contention among three nuclear neighbours. This esteemed panel is well aware of the environmentally disastrous effects of conflict and occupation. Deploying half a million troops requires massive deforestation to make room for their barracks and shooting ranges. Military training involves the extensive use of firearms and their debris, all sources of environmental damage. These activities have been ongoing for over 30 years. According to United Nations and reputable media organizations, the Indian Army has been involved in environmentally damaging policies such as burning shops, homes and even entire villages as punishment for the Kashmiri people's self struggle for self-determination. The Indian Army has also been involved in smuggling timber out of Kashmir. That is also environmentally damaging. Recently, after the revocation of autonomy in 2019, the Indian government has been altering the demography of the Kashmir Valley, which will directly increase anthropogenic activity. Almost 100% of commercial mining projects in the Jhelum River have been awarded to non-Kashmiri businesses from Maharashtra, Gujarat and other areas of India. Besides the destruction of flora and fauna, the massive mining is damaging the walls of the Jhelum River, which has caused flooding in the past. Floods have already caused the disaster of astronomical scale in Kashmir and Pakistan. I urge authorities here at UNHCR and the focus thematic panel to examine the environmental side of human rights development, conduct investigations and collect evidence to document the extent and impact of the environmental genocide in Kashmir. Thank you.  Kashmiri protesters wave Palestine flags above graffiti by artist Mudasir Gul in Indian-administered Kashmir. By Tazeen Hasan
In two far-off lands, on opposite sides of the earth, A story of destruction, of homes and hearth, Kashmir and Palestine, both places we know, Where houses are razed, and families made to go. In Kashmir, the army rolls in with tanks and guns, Bulldozers and explosives, the job has begun, They give no warning, no time to pack, As they shatter the walls, and the roof they hack. In Palestine, it's the Israeli army's might, The bulldozers come, day or night, With no care for the people, who call it home, Their houses are leveled, to the ground they're thrown. Both places are scarred, by these acts of violence, As families are left, with no place to find solace, Their memories, their dreams, their hopes and their fears, Are crushed, shattered, in a flood of tears. The world looks on, with a deafening silence, As the people of Kashmir and Palestine, Are left to bear, the brunt of this hate, Their stories, their pain, they cannot abate. Yet, amidst all this, they rise up again, With a resilience that's hard to contain, Their spirit, their strength, they will not yield, For in their hearts, a flame still burns, unhealed. So, let us stand with them, in their darkest hour, And lift our voices, with all our power, To tell the world, that we will not be still, Till their houses are rebuilt, on the same old hill.  Kolahoi Glacier (Creative Common License) January 25th, 2023
I am a Kashmiri glacier, My name is the Kolahoi glacier, And I am witnessing an environmental genocide, This message is an SOS signal to the world, This matter needs your immediate attention. In the olden days, people used to call me the goddess of light, Kashmiris depend on me and other glaciers for their agricultural needs, We provide water for their crops and fruit orchards, Without us, they will not survive, And we are disappearing, Because of the occupation, Because of the colonization of the Kashmir valley, And this is an environmental genocide, That nobody cares. Experts say my size is reduced by 23 percent, And that too in just three decades, Himalayan glaciers are melting at a faster rate than other regions, And Kashmiri glaciers are melting faster than other Himalayan glaciers, If we continue to melt at this rate, There will be no water for Kashmiris, There will be no food for them, And this is an environmental genocide, That nobody cares. The human activity of one million Indian troops Experts say the reason is human activity, But I want to tell the world, It is not the usual human activity, that causes us to melt at this alarming rate, It is the activity of around one million Indian troops; Which is meant to maintain the occupation of Kashmir valley, With their arrival, I witnessed massive deforestation, To make room for their barracks, They cut forests to build shooting ranges across the valley, Their heavy military vehicles emitted greenhouses gases, For more than thirty years, Their debris and wastes destroyed the climate of this pristine valley. And consequently, other glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate. If we continue to melt at this rate, There will be no water for Kashmiris, There will be no food for them, And this is an environmental genocide, That nobody cares. And this is not the end! Religious Tourism Despite warnings from the experts, That if they did not regulate religious tourism, Kolahoi glacier will disappear, The Indian government refused to restrict the number of pilgrims, Hindu nationalist groups campaigned to attract a million tourists for Amarnath Yatra, Consequently, We are melting at an alarming rate, If we continue to melt at this rate; There will be no water for Kashmiris, There will be no food for Kashmiris, And this is an environmental genocide, That nobody cares. The occupational forces burned houses and shops, And even the entire village, To collectively punish Kashmiris, Because they demand self-determination, And this practice is damaging the environment, Consequently, We are melting at an alarming rate, If we continue to melt at this rate; There will be no water for Kashmiris. And this is an environmental genocide, That nobody cares. I am a Kashmiri glacier, My name is Kolahoi glacier, And I am witnessing an environmental genocide, This message is an SOS signal to the world, This matter needs your immediate attention. Written by Tazeen Hasan, Campaign Manager for Justice For All Canada. |
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