Washington, D.C.August 24, 2025,(TW News) __ This is an appeal to the leaders of the free world to take urgent action and save my father’s life. My name is Razia Sultan, daughter of Kashmiri Hurriyat leader and freedom fighter, Mohammad Yasin Malik, whom India plans to execute next month for the “crime” of telling the truth and speaking about the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir. My father – Yasin Malik – has sacrificed everything throughout his life for the cause of Kashmir. I love my father deeply. I have not seen him for seven years, nor have I spoken to him for the past six years. If Prime Minister Modi is so powerful, why is he afraid of my father simply for speaking the truth? This is a child’s desperate plea to save her father’s life.

Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Aazad Kashmir and main organizer of the rally said today, the members of Kashmiri American community of Washington Metropolitan Area along with our friends from New York, New Jersy, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Canada stood together in Washington in front of the Embassy of India, beneath the statue of Gandhi — a powerful reminder of his message of freedom and justice. Sardar Zarif demanded freedom for all Kashmiri political prisoners, including Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aaalm, Aasia Andrabi, etc. who have been unjustly imprisoned for years.

The protestors waved banners, placards and shouted slogans, “Supreme Court Decision is a Delusion: Kashmir Needs a Resolution;” “India – Release all political prisoners unconditionally;” “Release the Legend & Prominent Kashmiri Political Prisoner: Yasin Malik;” “ Release Shabir Ahmed Shah: Amnesty Calls Him Prisoner of Conscience;” “Release Masarat Aalam: Victim of Arbitrary Detention;” Release Aasia Andrabi: Wrongfully Imprisoned.” “Indian Democracy Dead in Kashmir;” “Indian propaganda needs to be dispelled: Voices for free Kashmir cannot be quelled;” “No justice: No Peace.”

Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President, World Kashmir Awareness Forum and Executive Producer, Saffron Kingdom, a Kashmir film said that successive Indian regimes continue to hold Kashmiri prisoners under draconian laws for decades without a credible due process under international law. Kashmir under Indian occupation is a lawless state where prominent political leaders, human rights defenders and journalists are imprisoned in a vast network of dungeons for decades without an end. Internationally reputed leaders like Shabir Shah, Yasin Malik, Masarat Aalam, Khurram Parvez, Dr. Qasim Fakhtoo and his wife, Asiya Andrabi have been held for decades.

Dr. Mir added that the entirety of Indian Occupied Kashmir has been designated as a vast open-air prison by a European Parliamentary delegation. As India appears to be descending in to an unprecedented chaos internally and externally towards the tail end of Modi’s regime, there is a glimmer of hope that India’s chickens may soon be coming home to roost. Her pride may soon have a fall sooner than later!

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice said that a trial court has sentenced Yasin Malik to life imprisonment on May 24, 2022. Now, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is seeking enhancement of the sentence to death penalty. We all know that the case of Yasin Malik is not a legal but a political case. Government of India seeks to impose a death penalty that will serve as a deterrent to the people of Kashmir.

Dr. Fai added that let us not be lulled by the comfort of our air-conditioned homes. Yasin Sahib — imprisoned, enduring hardships, and staring into the face of life and death — has sacrificed everything for the cause of Kashmir. His struggle demands our remembrance, our gratitude, our unwavering resolve and at least our togetherness at a rally for his release be it Washington, New York, Dallas, Houston, Paris, London, Oslo, Brussels, Barcelona, Copenhagen, etc.

Dr. Imtiaz Khan, Kashmiri American scholar said that Yasin Malik, a prominent leader for the movement of Kashmiri independence and the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front is not run of the mill politician, but a revolutionary leader who has flame of freedom burning in his heart.

Dr. Khan warned that the plan and intentions of the current fascist regime are more sinister when it comes to the case of Yasin Malik. Narinder Modi is using Yasin Malik as a pawn for his domestic agenda. To ameliorate his political standing, Prime Minister Modi is using concocted, cooked up and contrived cases against Yasin Malik. By eliminating peace-loving leaders like Yasin Malik, the Indian regime is closing any avenues of peace in the region and pushing the youth of Kashmir towards actions that can be detrimental to the peaceful resolution of Kashmir conflict.

Mowahid Hussain Shah, attorney-at-law, author, and Member of the District of Columbia and U.S. Supreme Court Bars, speaking at the site of the Mahatma Gandhi statue, lauded the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi in struggling against racial injustice and oppression in South Africa for 21 years. The irony of fate, Mowahid noted, is that the ideology which murdered Mahatma Gandhi is ruling and dominating India today, in that Narendra Modi was and is a member of RSS. He said that not for nothing was Modi banned from entering America for 10 years because the U.S. State Department had actual evidence of his direct complicity in the Gujarat anti-Muslim pogroms and massacres when Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Yasin Malik, Mowahid Shah stated, stands tall and unafraid and, most importantly, he remains undefeated, in the cause of Kashmir. Mowahid recalled the example of his dervish father, Col. Amjad Hussain Sayed, who, on his deathbed, gave the parting advice to always speak Kalma-e-Haq. Mowahid said that all well-wishers of humanity and proponents of fairness in Kashmir, and advocating for the release of Yasin Malik, should not be bashful in speaking out loud and clear.

Sardar Shoaib Irshad, General Secretary, Kashmir American Welfare Association (KAWA) and co-organizer of the rally said that the Delhi High Court on August 11, 2025, sought the response of Yasin Malik on a plea filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for him. The new hearing will be held on November 10, 2025, when the jail authorities will produce Yasin Malik virtually before the court. Then the court will decide whether to keep life imprisonment or enhance it to death penalty. Sardar Shoaib added today, we are here to stand for Yasin Malik.

Sardar Mehmood Iqbal, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir expressed concern over the silence of the world powers over the semi genocidal situation in Kashmir. Sardar Mehmood added that whole nation of Azad Kashmir is standing with the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir and will keep exposing the atrocities and brutalities of Indian fascist PM Narender Modi. We, as a nation will keep standing with the people of Jammu and Kashmir till the day of their freedom.

Hafiz Habibullah distinguished religious scholar demanded unconditional release of all Kashmiri political prisoner. He added that justice delayed is justice denied. Hafiz Sahib explained that the right of self-determination which was promised to the people of Kashmir by both India & Pakistan and was endorsed by the UN Security Council needs to be fulfilled. The Kashmir dispute has no military solution. It can only be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

Zia ul Hassan, prominent community leader emphasized that continued incarceration of Yasin Malik is a grave violation of human rights and an obstacle to peace and justice. He urged the Trump Administration to take immediate notice and press for his freedom.

Hamid Malik, President, a well-known and dedicated leader of Washington Metropolitan community said that the circumstances demand that we must knock the corridors of powers everywhere, particularly here in Washington to intervene and save the life of Yasin Malik and other political prisoners in Kasmir.

Sardar Aftab Roshan Khan made an earnest appeal to the United Nations and other world powers, including President Donald Trump to impress upon the Modi administration to let international standards of justice prevail and free Mohammad Yasin Malik.

Mian Waseem who introduced Dr Rohanda Hamilton for DC Mayoral Candide for Washington DC. said that since, August 5, 2019, Indian government, in order to crush any resistance to their illegal occupation, has instituted new draconian measures. In a ruthless campaign they imprisoned politicians, journalists, and civil society members, to intimidate and suppress any form of dissent.

Dr Rohanda Hamilton for DC Mayoral Candide for Washington DC. expressed her concern about human rights anywhere in the world. She said that the demand of release of Yasin Malik is a humane one and I do endorse the demand of his unconditional release without any reservation.

Mrs. Evans (97 years old) said that I was born in the nations capital and am a proud resident of Washington DC. I am here to be with my brothers and sisters who demand justice for Yasin Malik.

Sadaqat Hayat, Kashmiri- Canadian human rights activist said that we ask the people of the world to stand up and speak up for the freedom of Kashmir. Our appeal to Trump Administration is to seriously engage India, Pakistan, and legitimate representatives of Kashmir in a results-oriented peaceful resolution of this most serious conflict of the world that is Kashmir.

Sardar Yameen Khan pleaded with the world powers to persuade India to withdraw all Indian military and paramilitary personnel from the villages and towns so that all the people in Jammu &Kashmir can exercise their right of self-determination through a free and fair referendum.

Sardar Zahid Hussein of Pennsylvania, notable community leader said that the nation of Kashmir has proved that Indian barbarism cannot kill their desire for right to self-determination. He expressed his unconditional moral support to the people of Kashmir for a just and peaceful struggle.

Others who spoke included: Muhammad Imtiaz Khan; Moazzam Sahi, President Pakistan House, Washington; Haider Irshad Khan; Zeeshan Khan; Akram Butt; Wajahat Hussein; Wahid Hussain Syed, Nazam Khan & family; Khalid Fahim & family; Raqeeb & family.

At the end, Dr. Fai thanked all participants, particularly the media fraternity, including Manzoor Hussain and Zahid Hussain of Weekly Dunya, International, Javid Kousar of BOL TV, Yusuf Choudhary, Khurram Shahzad, Attique Sadozai of SUNO TV. Rally was concluded with Du’a for the martyrs of Kashmir.

Dr. Fai is also Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum.
He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435. Or. gnfai2003@yahoo.com
www.kashmirawareness.org