JEDDAH (TSAT) - The Muslim bloc on Monday expressed deep concern over the Indian government's attempts to redraw the electoral boundaries of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, altering the demographic structure of the territory and violating the rights of the Kashmiri people.

In a statement, issued from the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) , said the ‘delimitation’ exercises are in direct contravention of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

Referring to the long-standing and principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and relevant decisions of the Islamic Summit and OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, the General Secretariat reiterates its solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their just quest for the right of self-determination, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It urges the international community, particularly the UN Security Council to take immediate cognizance of the grave implications of such ‘delimitation’ exercises.

Earlier, the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of OIC strongly condemns the Indian Government’s recently concluded illegal exercise to redraw and delimit the electoral constituencies in the IOJK and called it as violative of numerous OIC and UN Security Council Resolutions as well as international human rights and humanitarian laws. 

“IPHRC, accordingly supports the unanimous rejection of the Kashmiri political leadership of these illegal measures, which are continuum of the host of other ‘Hindutva’ inspired illegal steps taken by the Indian occupation regime in IOJK in the aftermath of the 5th August 2019,” the body said in a statement. 

While recalling that the indigenous Kashmiri political leadership has always rejected and boycotted the electoral politics in IOJK, the Commission condemns the recent Indian attempt to redraw electoral constituencies in IOJK, which is a nefarious attempt to alter the electoral demographics and dynamics in a manner that could influence the sham electoral results to install puppet regimes of its choice in IOJK.

“ These wicked measures are aimed at converting the indigenous Muslim population into minority within their homeland and obstruct the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination.”

“These measures are manifest violations of the human rights of the Kashmiri people, guaranteed under well codified international human rights treaties including Fourth Geneva Convention, which clearly prohibits any change in the demographics of the occupied areas and resultant disenfranchisement,” the Commission added.

The Commission, while rejecting these measures as illegal, reiterates its oft repeated call to the UN and the international community to play their due role to pressurize India to abide by the relevant UNSC and OIC resolutions to refrain from any administrative and legislative actions, which tantamount to altering the geographic and demographic status of the IOJK;

 “Restore all fundamental freedoms of Kashmiris and repeal all discriminatory laws; and c) allow people of Kashmir to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination through a free and fair plebiscite, as provided in the relevant UN Security Council and OIC resolutions,” Its added.