Srinagar: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and around the world are observing the 12th anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru’s execution today. The commemoration comes with a renewed commitment to continue the struggle for liberation from Indian control.
According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Muhammad Afzal Guru was executed on February 9, 2013, at Tihar Jail in New Delhi. The execution was defended by the presiding judge as necessary to satisfy the collective sentiments of the Indian populace. However, legal experts and human rights activists have described it as a judicial murder.
The execution, conducted in secrecy without notifying Guru’s family, has been criticized as a significant blemish on India’s democratic credentials. The family’s inability to retrieve Guru’s remains has exacerbated the feeling of injustice in Jammu and Kashmir. Analysts argue that Guru’s legacy, along with other Kashmiri martyrs, symbolizes resistance against oppression and continues to inspire the region’s freedom movement.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, in a statement from Srinagar, asserted that martyrs like Afzal Guru have revitalized the Kashmiri struggle for freedom, urging younger generations to resist India’s control. The organization reiterated that India’s repressive tactics, including the targeting of Kashmiri youth, will not deter the region’s pursuit of self-determination as recognized by the United Nations.
Indian forces have reportedly increased their operations across the occupied territory, including the detention of young people and raids on homes to suppress pro-freedom activities. Despite these measures, the Kashmiri population remains committed to honoring their martyrs and advancing the cause for liberation.
Pro-freedom leaders, including the APHC, have called on the global community to hold India accountable for its human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir. They urge international intervention to resolve the long-standing Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions.
Farida Behanji, Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement, paid tribute to Muhammad Maqbool Butt and Muhammad Afzal Guru, denouncing their executions as judicial murders. She appealed to the international community to press India to return the martyrs’ remains for proper burial.
In Islamabad, APHC-AJK leader Manzoor Ahmad Dar reiterated the commitment to carrying on the mission of the martyrs.