The International Kashmir Congress, organized by the Center for Economic and Social Research (ESAM), started in Ankara with the title "Occupied Kashmir in the Framework of International Law".
On the first day of the congress, while the legal problems were discussed, many participants from around the world made statements about Kashmir.
“WE SEE THAT THE WORLD IS RECKLESS ABOUT KASHMIR”
Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu pointed out that the Islamic world has many problems and stated that especially the Kashmir and Palestine issue has been going on for 75 years.
Emphasizing that the long-standing and unsolved problems in Kashmir have increased, Karamollaoğlu said, "The UN resolutions taken do not seem to be of much interest to India and the UN. The increase in pressure is an indication of this. Unfortunately, we cannot say that progress has been made in the Kashmir issue for 75 years. Of course, this is not due to the efforts of our brothers and sisters who make an effort. Seeing that their own interests are threatened, Western countries are hesitant to take a step. We see that the world is not at all careless about Kashmir."
“IF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES WRITTEN THIS ISSUE ON THEIR AGENDA, THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED”
Pointing out that after the Second World War, public opinion was taken as a basis in the lands where Britain withdrew, Karamollaoğlu stated that Kashmir was out of this sensitivity and said, "Around 90 percent of the people living in Kashmir are Muslims and do not want to be under pressure from India. That's why India does not hesitate to have almost as many soldiers there as the population. With some laws, they started to reinforce this even more and not to pay attention to the decision of the public. If Islamic countries had put this issue at the top of their agenda, this problem would have been solved. I think that if political pressure was applied to India, it would not have been able to stand it. But this was not the case with us. As you know, we attach importance to this issue, especially Erbakan Hodja. In this regard, Islamic countries have two assets. There is no difference between the existence and non-existence of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. And the D-8s, which our teacher Erbakan pioneered in 7-8 months. Even the D-8 countries could not show an approach that takes their troubles as their own. First of all, there is a need for initiatives that will lead to the awakening of all these countries. These cents should put the Kashmir issue at the top of their agenda. It is admirable that our Kashmiri brothers have been tirelessly trying to keep this issue on the agenda for 75 years. It is our hope and desire that this effort be continued by the next generations."
“THE LEGAL DIMENSIONS OF OCCUPATION AND COLONIALISM WILL BE CONSIDERED”
Making the opening speech of the congress, ESAM Secretary General Atik Ağdağ pointed out that Kashmir is one of the problems left by the imperialist and colonialist states in the last century.
"The Kashmir case remains a humanitarian cause for Muslims and a problem for other people. In this two-day congress with the Kashmir Law Forum, we will try to discuss the occupation, colonialism and its legal dimensions. We will consult the new settler colony," he said.
Nasir Qadir, Chairman of the Kashmir Law Forum, reminded that with the decision made by India regarding the region in recent months, the region has changed its character in the context of international law.
"As we all know, India has launched a new game. On August 5, it abolished autonomy in this region. This changed the framework of the occupied territories and this step brought minimal occupation. We are also here to consult the issue in the context of international law," he said.
“WE REQUEST LEADERSHIP FROM MUSLIM COUNTRY LEADERS AGAINST INDIA”
Abdul-Rasheed Turabi, Speaker of the Assembly of Azad Kashmir, who made the greeting speech said, "Mr. Erbakan has expressed the Kashmir issue in many congresses in the last 30-40 years. He expressed his problems for Muslims. Felicity Party and ESAM also expressed it. I think they are the only organization that brings the problems of Muslims to the world agenda. Our leader Necmettin Erbakan presided over us. We have spoken to many people so far. There was an understanding between Muslim countries. It has strengthened our stance in the international community. Although there are reports, there are OECD, UN resolutions, there are debates in the British Parliament, but despite everything, India does not compromise its position and continues to worsen the situation. We demand leadership from the leaders of Muslim countries against India. We want you to stop this persecution."
“WE SHOULD FOLLOW ERBAKAN'S ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP”
Making the greeting speech, Iranian Ambassador to Ankara Muhammed Farazmand, "Ayatollah Khomeini is our leader and our people are staunch supporters of the Kashmiri people. It has expressed the right of the people to self-determination in more than one place. Our leader, Khomeini, came together at the Islamic Summit in 1997. At this summit, we met with a delegation from Kashmir. The Islamic Organization is not fulfilling its responsibilities. We need to follow the Islamic leadership of our late leader Necmettin Erbakan. The D-8 can hold an executive meeting to address the Kashmir issue," he said.
“EVERYTHING IS STOLEN FROM MUSLIMS IN THE REGION”
Ghulam Nabi Mir, Chairman of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, who made the greeting speech, stated that every freedom is under occupation in Kashmir and Kashmir looks like a paradise on earth.
"We have never been able to be together with the Indians, they always wanted to keep them under pressure and domination. Imagine your culture, your nationality being oppressed by the Indians. We realized that the Indians were also taking over our livelihoods. Many of the people living in rural areas disappeared. Camps were set up there for some of the Hindus brought from India. Muslims are losing their lands and forests there. Mines are stolen. Everything that belongs to them is stolen," he said.
“INDIA IS TRYING TO LEGITATE THE INVASION THROUGH STORIES”
Ghulam Mohammad Safi, Member of the All-Party Freedom Conference, who made the greeting speech, pointed out that India is trying to legitimize its invasion with false stories.
"Asked how to occupy a land that is not your own, India was asked, and the answer was that the king of Kashmir had signed a declaration of accession in 1947. But was there really a certificate of participation? British historians stated that such a document never existed. India is trying to legitimize the occupation by creating some stories here. The UN has taken a number of decisions. People in the Kashmir region have been given the right to make their own decisions. The stories that India created were left in the air, but India came up with a new story and said that we are determined to hold a referendum, but Pakistan abandoned this decision because it formed an alliance. How Pakistan's alliance will affect the Kashmir region has raised questions. India continues to change its story," he said.
“INDIA MILITARY AND POLICE USE RAPE AS A WEAPON”
Shamim Shawl, Member of the All-Party Freedom Conference, who delivered the welcoming speech, pointed out that the rights of women and children in Kashmir were violated in many ways by the occupiers.
"The rights of the Kashmiri people are suspended. This is in violation of the UN's Human Rights treaties. The states that occupy our homeland are occupying these rights. It should draw the attention of Human Rights associations, Women's Rights associations, Children's Rights associations. When we look at international reviews, and when we look at the declarations created, in many cases, our women's and children's rights are brought to the agenda. When we look at the UN documents, the perpetrators are perceived as minorities and they see this violence as justified because the victims are in the minorities. Indian police and army are using rape as a weapon against Kashmiri people. This situation causes violence to escalate. Our women, whose husbands were killed, do not receive support from the government or the world. Kashmiri women are the most oppressed under occupation tanks. The issue of occupation was discussed in many ways, but not so much on women's rights. First of all, we need to hear about the tragedies of these people," he said.
“THE OCCUPATION IS ACTUALLY A SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL RAPING”
Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, who delivered the welcoming speech, said, "The UN India Delegation made a speech at the Security Council and said: Kashmir will not stay in India or Pakistan, it will be decided by the people of Kashmir. I, on the other hand, was accused of teaching this to the people of Kashmir and working to implement it, and I had to leave my homeland 42 years ago. When you lose your homeland, you actually lose more than an immovable. When the occupying forces set foot in our homeland, you are directly guilty. The occupation forces are trying to destroy your culture and what you believe in. Occupation is actually a spiritual and intellectual encroachment. The occupation actually destroyed everything in Kashmir. We had a very different culture from India. Resistance to the occupation of India is not a crime."