Muzaffarabad: Speakers at two seminars have voiced serious concern over the ongoing denial of justice to victims of the Kunanposhpora mass rape, which occurred in the Kupwara district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the seminars were organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter at Fatima Jinnah Postgraduate College and Saheeli Sarkar Girls College in Muzaffarabad. The events marked the 34th anniversary of the horrific Kunanposhpora mass rape incident.

Key figures addressing the seminars included APHC-AJK General Secretary Parvaiz Ahmed Shah, along with leaders Shameem Shawl, Zahid Ashraf, Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, and Mushtaq ul Islam. They expressed grave concern over the severe human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by Indian forces in the region.

The speakers criticized the Indian government, judiciary, and military for failing to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy, despite what they described as ample evidence. They referenced the BBC documentary and the book “Do You Remember Kunan-Poshpora” as sources corroborating the involvement of Indian forces.

Addressing the broader implications, the speakers condemned the impunity enjoyed by the Indian Army, facilitated by what they termed as “black laws,” which they argue undermine the pursuit of justice. The speakers called upon international human rights organizations to address the escalating human rights violations in the region.

Additionally, the speakers paid tribute to Kashmiri martyrs and appealed to the United Nations to intervene and compel India to adhere to international laws.

On the night of February 22-23, 1991, approximately 100 Kashmiri women were reportedly gang-raped by Indian forces during a cordon and search operation in the Kunanposhpora area. To date, those accountable have not faced justice.

In a related message from jail, APHC General Secretary Molvi Bashir Ahmed described the mass rape as a stain on Indian democracy, criticizing India’s alleged refusal to allow international human rights organizations access to the region and asserting that Kashmiri women are being used as instruments of war.