Demanding the Halt of Senseless Destruction of Kashmiri Homes
February 21st, 2023
Justice For All Canada expresses grave concern over the recent reports of house demolitions in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Verifiable sources indicate that the Indian government is forcibly bulldozing Kashmiri homes in several districts, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Badgam. Moreover, Justice For All Canada sources on the ground provided evidence that over 35,000 families informed that their homes are built on illegally encroached land and listed for demolition.
“If the actions of the Indian government go unchecked, this destructive campaign could result in hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri families, including innocent children, being deprived of their right to adequate housing,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Indian police demolished homes during a period of extreme cold, while the people of Kashmir, including families with children, were asleep.
Justice For All Canada condemns this brutal colonial tactic of the Indian State. Since the abrogation of Kashmir’s state autonomy in 2019, the Indian government has intensified its policies of settling colonizers in the region, leading to a grave infringement of the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris.
The right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The recent demolitions clearly violate these rights, as the affected families are left homeless without adequate notice or compensation, and without access to their rights to freedom of movement, privacy, and participation in decisions affecting their community.
Justice For All Canada stands in solidarity with the affected families and calls for immediate action from Canada’s global affairs and foreign policy;
Justice For All Canada expresses grave concern over the recent reports of house demolitions in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Verifiable sources indicate that the Indian government is forcibly bulldozing Kashmiri homes in several districts, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Badgam. Moreover, Justice For All Canada sources on the ground provided evidence that over 35,000 families informed that their homes are built on illegally encroached land and listed for demolition.
“If the actions of the Indian government go unchecked, this destructive campaign could result in hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri families, including innocent children, being deprived of their right to adequate housing,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Indian police demolished homes during a period of extreme cold, while the people of Kashmir, including families with children, were asleep.
Justice For All Canada condemns this brutal colonial tactic of the Indian State. Since the abrogation of Kashmir’s state autonomy in 2019, the Indian government has intensified its policies of settling colonizers in the region, leading to a grave infringement of the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris.
The right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The recent demolitions clearly violate these rights, as the affected families are left homeless without adequate notice or compensation, and without access to their rights to freedom of movement, privacy, and participation in decisions affecting their community.
Justice For All Canada stands in solidarity with the affected families and calls for immediate action from Canada’s global affairs and foreign policy;
- We demand the Canadian government denounces the Indian government’s senseless assault on the livelihood of Kashmiris and record a protest with the Indian Ambassador in Ottawa and hold responsible authorities accountable for these human rights violations.
- The right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right that must be upheld and defendable by all nations. Measures must be taken to end any violations of this right, particularly in the case of the Kashmiri people.
- We urge all nations to take action to restore the autonomy of the state of Kashmir and to ensure that the right to adequate housing is respected and protected.