Kashmir Solidarity International Conference convened in Longford
A very well attended and successful Kashmir Solidarity Conference was organised in Longford to mark a day of significance as a reaction to the Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Youm-e-istehsal-e-kashmir is a day observed in Pakistan on 5th August every year in which the lives of Kashmiris, especially women and children are brought to the forefront of the public’s imagination.
Held on August 8 at Longford Rugby Club, prominent speakers from Pakistan and Ireland included the Ambassador of Pakistan in Ireland H.E. Aisha Farooqui, Deputy Joe Flaherty TD, David Madden - CEO SRCC, Ruth Maxwell - Law Reform Commission/SRCC, Jamal Aziz (International & Human Rights Law Expert), Hadiqa Mir (PhD Researcher & Analyst on Kashmir), Barrister Faisal Khan (Human Rights law expert) and Samina Ahmed all addressed the audience.
Many local political party representatives, Longford councillors, Roscommon councillors, solicitors and Kashmiri and Pakistani community activists also attended.
The awareness event was facilitated by Parvez Butt and Athar Butt.
The Kashmir profile is gathering momentum in Ireland, and this second Conference went some way in creating awareness of crimes against humanity and significant human rights abuses being perpetrated in occupied Kashmir.
Kashmir Peace and Solidarity Council is a committed and an "apolitical" organisation creating an awareness of the plight of the Kashmiri People.
The campaign hopes to establish support for Fora around the entirety of the political and social spectrum in Ireland.