Brussels, Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU), has voiced strong opposition to the recent parliamentary elections conducted by India in the region termed as Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating they do not address the fundamental right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Syed expressed that the elections held for the Lok Sabha seats in IIOJK are a mere facade and cannot replace the Kashmiris’ internationally recognized right to self-determination. He advocates for a plebiscite under United Nations oversight, which he argues is the only legitimate method to determine the will of the Kashmiri people regarding their sovereignty and future governance.

Syed criticized the Indian government’s approach, describing the recent electoral process as an attempt to legitimize its control while masking the severe and ongoing human rights violations in the region. He accused India of using draconian laws to suppress the Kashmiri populace, citing detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings enforced by a large contingent of Indian forces.

Furthermore, Syed condemned the electoral process as manipulated through intimidation and electoral fraud, noting that the true sentiment of the Kashmiri people was not reflected in the outcome. He also highlighted the lack of international oversight, with global human rights bodies and observers barred from accessing the region to provide independent assessments.

The KC-EU Chairman’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment among Kashmiri activists and international observers who question the legitimacy of Indian governance in the region. Syed’s call for a plebiscite aligns with longstanding demands for an internationally supervised vote to resolve the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

In his concluding remarks, Syed called on international organizations to recognize and respond to the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, urging support for a plebiscite to resolve the conflict as per UN resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.