Brussels, (Unib Rashid) – Chairman of the Kashmir Council Europe (EU), Ali Raza Syed, has stated that India should hand over the mortal remains of the great sons of Kashmir, martyr Afzal Guru and martyr Maqbool Butt, to their families in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir. This would allow them to perform the final ceremonies of the martyrs according to their traditions and ensure the bodies are buried properly.

In a statement on the occasion of the anniversaries of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt, Chairman of the Council EU, Ali Raza Syed paid rich tribute to both martyrs, saying that these great Kashmiri sons of Soil were a beacon for the freedom movement of Kashmir.

It is notable that February 9 is the anniversary of Kashmiri freedom struggler Mohammad Afzal Guru. Afzal Guru was hanged in India’s Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013, and buried there without the permission of his heirs. Before that, Mohammad Maqbool Butt was hanged in the same jail on February 11, 1984, and his mortal remains were also buried within the jail against the wishes of his heirs.

Ali Raza Syed said that India cannot end the Jammu and Kashmir freedom movement by hanging Kashmiris; it must accept the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and grant them the right to decide their political future in accordance with the international laws. Right of self determination is an internationally recognized right, which India itself has had promised to grant.

He demanded that the Kashmir issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the United Nations resolutions.
He said that the Kashmir issue is very important for peace in South Asia because this issue is the biggest obstacle in the path of development and prosperity for the region’s population of over 1.5 billion.

The Chairman of Kashmir Council EU demanded from the international community, particularly the United Nations and the European Union, to play their role for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

He also demanded an end to the restrictions in occupied Kashmir, the release of political leaders, and the prevention of extrajudicial killings.

He asked for the immediate release of Yasin Malik and other political leaders and activists, saying that India has imprisoned them on false charges.

The statement said that under the auspices of Kashmir Council EU, an event will also be orga nized on February 10 at the Council’s Central Secretariat in Brussels in memory of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt.