KL Report
BRUSSELS
Continuing its advocacy work on the execution of Afzal Guru and its implications in Kashmir, ICHR has, with its intense lobbying, persuaded various political groups and considerable number of Members of the European Parliament to introduce a motion for an Urgency Resolution on the secret hanging of Afzal Guru.
As per a statement the motion has now been proposed and it would come up for discussion and vote in the European Parliament’s upcoming plenary session on Thursday, May 23 in Strasbourg.
Barrister A Majid Tramboo, Chairman of ICHR has stated that “The resolution, which is currently entitled ‘The Execution of Afzal Guru and its Implications’ strongly condemns states that still undertake execution while noting that India refused to accept the recommendation of the UN regarding a moratorium on the death penalty that was put forward by numerous states. The resolution also notes that “Guru was sentenced under the now defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act that was repealed in 2004 as it was widely seen to be open to abuse and in strict violation of numerous human rights treaties to which India is a signatory, and urges the EU uses all its available tools of diplomacy and cooperation with the government of India for the return of Afzal Guru’s body to his wife and family for the decent burial pursuant to his religious rites.”
This follows the work previously undertaken by International Council For Human Rights (ICHR) on the issue of Guru’s hanging, included in the campaign were communications to the OHCHR, Vice President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. Both Vice President Ashton and President Schulz later condemned the execution.
Barrister Tramboo views these steps as positive measures for human rights defenders and hopes that it will inspire further action from European leaders on the state of affairs in Indian Held Kashmir.
Barrister Tramboo commended Ali Shah Nawaz Khan, Executive Director of Kashmiri Scandinavian Council who contributed to bring about the proposed Afzal Guru Urgency Resolution. He has also worked to persuade the members of the Norwegian Parliament to have an interpolation in the Norwegian Parliament on the Guru hanging on May 23.
The statement further reads that ICHR will continue bringing to light the human rights violations and commends European leaders who have already taken a stand for the people of Kashmir.
