 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. In July and August 2022, Justice For All Canada co-organized back-to-back demonstrations protesting the inhumane persecution of Uighurs and Kashmiris. Although these groups represent different struggles and lived experiences, both minorities share in common grievances related to their security, equality, livelihood and wellbeing. August 31st, 2022 By Saleha Faruque Uighurs and Kashmiris represent Indigenous peoples belonging to native lands in Asia; East Turkestan is home to 12 million Uighurs, whereas 12.5 million Kashmiris live in Jammu and Kashmir. Both regions exist under intense occupation and administration by majoritarian governments. Kashmiris live in Jammu and Kashmir, located in the extreme northwest of India. The Indian state currently occupies two-thirds of this territory. According to Human Rights Watch, India’s ruling nationalist government is responsible for revoking constitutional autonomy granted to Kashmir. East Turkestan has also been colonized, controlled and occupied by China’s government since 1949. Occupying powers in East Turkestan and Kashmir have contributed to severe human rights violations against their minority populations. This includes arbitrary mass arrest, suppression of thought and censorship, illegal settler activities, sexual and gender-based violence, including other crimes punishable under international human rights laws. Kashmir Protest in Mississauga, Ontario Celebration Square is a public space located in the heart of Ontario’s Mississauga city. The venue holds years’ worth of concerts, festivals and community events—an ideal location to amplify voices for Kashmiri rights. The Kashmiri protest was co-organized between Justice For All Canada and Friends of Kashmir Canada. Our respective groups invited students, community leaders, professionals and Kashmiris to gather, share thoughts, and broadcast a strong message in support of the Kashmiri people. The event also drew Kashmiri Canadians from all backgrounds and ages. Because of the successful rally. some of them could finally witness people coming together for the sake of this neglected cause. When it comes to the issue of Kashmiri rights, support is hard to come by. Unfortunately, the pervasive nature of India’s right-wing BJP government makes it difficult for impacted Kashmiris to voice their opinions. Luckily, non-profit organizations like Just Peace Advocates frequently use their platform and expertise to conduct strong advocacy demanding an end to the hidden government-imposed oppression plaguing Kashmir’s population. Uighur Protest in Toronto
It was a warm Sunday afternoon when hundreds of activists, student groups, volunteers, families and Uighur people gathered outside the Chinese consulate in Toronto. Heartfelt testimonies, statements and peaceful chants were delivered by a crowd unified against the ongoing genocide of Uighurs. Anti-genocide signs were held high, and by the day’s end, activists formed emotional connections with one another. Consulate workers entered and exited the building, avoiding eye contact and maintaining stoic expressions throughout. The successful protest was part of a global solidarity movement launched by Stand 4 Uyghurs, an advocacy project of UK-based website Islam21C. In addition to the protest, the #Stand4Uyghurs initiative also included a global khutba campaign in major cities across the UK, Australia, the US and Canada. Justice For All Canada participated by urging hundreds of nationwide Imams and Mosques to dedicate their Friday khutba (lecture) to discussing crimes against humanity inflicting Uighur Muslims under China’s communist government. Canada’s Government is Responsible Justice For All Canada is a human rights and advocacy organization committed to preventing and halting anti-minority Islamophobia, hate crimes, ongoing genocide or genocide incitement in regions like Kashmir, East Turkestan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Burma and India. As 2022 presents the first non-pandemic summer, activists look forward to continue assembling under shared goals of peace and equality for the world’s most persecuted minorities.  The Indian govt invoked the public Safety Act against the journalist Sajjad Gul, saying he is well educated and may provoke the public against the government on social media, so his case should be non-bailable. Photo courtesy: Sajjad Gul/Twitter Imagine a democracy where posting a local video on social media is an offence. Adding insult to injury is the fact that these charges are non-bailable under a law that Amnesty International long calls a lawless law.
Sajjad Gul, 29, a Master's student in Journalism at the University of Kashmir, and a local reporter at the online media outlet Kashmir Walla, was arrested on January 6 on the accusation that he posted a video of the relatives of a slain militant raising “Anti-India” slogans. According to a recent report by Indian Express, a reputable Indian national media outlet, “Three FIRs were registered against him – two based on complaints by police. Nonetheless, the judicial magistrate's court granted him bail on January 15, but he was booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) the next day”. FIR, or First Information Report, is a document prepared by Indian police noting serious offences. The PSA has been used since the late 1970s to crush any political resistance against the state. Individuals booked under this law can not apply for bail and can be kept in custody for two years without any judicial procedure or trial. Ironically, after completing the maximum years of detention, the victim of this brutal and lawless act is usually arrested again outside the gate. This vicious cycle continues until the Indian government finally decides the victim is no longer a threat to its colonial project. A.S. Dalut, the former chief of Indian intelligence agencies Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), writes in his 2015-memoir “Kashmir: the Vajpayee Years” that they [Indian authorities] used to arrest political prisoners outside the prison gate. According to fair trial standards, prolonged detention of prisoners without trial is arbitrary. The Indian government is a signatory of several international treaties which obligate it to follow international human rights and humanitarian law. The whole Kashmiri leadership, ie: political leaders, journalists, human rights defenders, and lawyers are currently detained under lawless laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the PSA, or under fabricated charges of “money laundering” and having “links” with cross border terrorist organizations. Since the arrest of Khurram Parvez, the global award-winning human rights defender, the Indian government has intensified its crackdown against Kashmiri civil society to an unprecedented level. The detainee's crime is nothing but their ability to mobilize the people of Kashmir. The Indian government is scared of educated people in Kashmir. As someone commented on Twitter, "being well educated is hazardous in Kashmir."
Written by Tazeen Hasan, a Campaigns Manager of Free Kashmir and #FreeShabirShah, both advocacy projects of Justice For All Canada
This is Imam Omar Sulieman's speech at the Russell Tribunal in Bosnia, taking place in December 2021.
The most influential speeches in history are coincidentally short, comprehensive and compelling. Martin Luther King Junior's 'I have a dream', Nelson Madella's 'I am the first accused', and Ibraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address, all have these distinct qualities.
Imam Omar Sulieman's seven-minute speech at the Russell Tribunal comprises the same attributes. I found his speech succinct yet stimulating and compendious at the same time. Containing all Arostatalian elements of ethos, pathos and logos, Sulieman began his speech with an English translation of his mother's poetry about Bosnia. 'A soul in Saraivo is as precious as a soul in Jenin' He pointed out a few but profoundly important points: While talking about the Kashmir conflict he identifies that our present narratives about history are distorted and often based on body counts and political calculations. The Kashmir conflict should be analyzed keeping in view its historical context focusing on the Kashmiri people. Suleiman emphasizes that we should not be selective while raising our voices against human rights violations. Kashmir is as important as Palestine. He rightly pointed out that it is an irony that India is referred to as the “world's largest democracy”, and Israel is considered “the only democracy” in the Middle East, despite their repression and illegal occupations. Making clear the notion of genocide he said, “genocide is manifested not just through mass killings but heavy milititirization, legislations, censorship to block news locally, surveillance abroad”. I believe he used his seven minutes judicially, delivering the message needed to teach our Ummah (community) how to frame the Kashmir issue in the right context. May Allah reward his efforts and free Kashmiris from Indian aggression. |
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