Srinagar, July 23: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday condemned the recent abduction and rape of a woman allegedly by the soldiers at Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
 Mirwaiz, who is under house arrest since Thursday, has appealed the people to continue protests against the shameful incident till the culprits are brought to justice. “Such inhuman crimes are perpetrated by the soldiers under a well thought out plan to offend the sentiments of people and pressurize them to abandon their struggle,” he said.
 Mirwaiz called upon international and Indian organizations working for human rights protection to break their silence and fulfill their responsibilities to ensure an immediate halt to human rights violations and crimes against women. “They should also play their role in the revocation of all black laws and get all the cases of rape investigated and guilty punished,” he said.   
 Meanwhile, Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat would convene a meeting on Monday before meeting the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Hina Rabani Khar.
 “Our focus would be that Pakistan should talk about demilitarization and repealing of black laws in Jammu and Kashmir. It is because of these laws and the huge presence of army, police and military that human rights violations are going on uninterrupted,” Mirwaiz said. He said the confidence building measures rather than announcing trade and bus services should focuses on much pressing issues like repealing of black laws and demilitarization to bring relief to people of Kashmir.
 Meanwhile, Hurriyat has strongly condemned the continued house arrest of its leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Bilal Gani Lone, advocate Shahid-ul-Islam and Zaffar Akbar Bhat.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST