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Silencing free speech in Kashmir by India and Pakistan condemned


London (PR)
A human rights group has urged India and Pakistan to lift bans over
free speech in Jammu and Kashmir region.
“We are extremely concerned over the deteriorating situation of
freedom of expression in Kashmir where free speech is under extreme
threats”.
Said a statement issued by the Press For Peace(PFP) on Friday while
commenting over recent developments in Kashmir region.
The statement expressed deep concern over recent sanctions on civil
liberties imposed by India and Pakistan in disputed state of Jammu and
Kashmir.
It said that Indian government has harassed and intimated the users of
social networking media.
It added that the freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy
and freedoms; however, silencing the political dissidents in Kashmir
is against the basic human rights guaranteed by international
agreements and United Nations human rights charter.
In Indian Jammu and Kashmir authorities have launched a major
crackdown’ against facebook and other social media and various
citizens have been questioned for expressing their views about
different social and political issues.
“Such undemocratic measures should be stopped and people should be
given freedom to exercise their basic rights”, it added.
The statement also said that Pakistani authorities have already jammed
the mobile phone services in Gilgit Baltistan in the wake of recent
sectarian killings.
“Silencing the modern telecommunications like mobile phones by
Pakistani regime in its administrated Gilgit has worsened the public
life in the area."
The statement urged India and Pakistan to honour the aspirations of
the people in order to cultivate the democratic norms and healthy
culture of respecting divergent views.
It also called upon Islamabad and Delhi to lift all sanctions against
free speech in Kashmir.
(PFP News & Views info@pressforpeace.org.uk)

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