May 26th 2023
Justice For All Canada strongly condemns the brutal raid and egregious vandalism conducted by Indian army troops at the residence of Shabir Shah, a Kashmiri politician, human rights defender and Prisoner of Conscience. This disturbing incident transpired on May 17th, 2023, days before the G20 working group met in Kashmir’s Srinagar city.
Kashmir is a disputed region occupied by over half a million security forces under India’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. India hosts this year’s G20 Summit and has blatantly organized diplomatic meetings in occupied Kashmir, despite global outcry about state abuses against Kashmiris. Shah’s home was raided just months after he described the BJP's plan to hold the summit in Kashmir “a disinformation campaign aimed at creating a smokescreen to hide ground realities in Kashmir and to hoodwink the international community.”
“It is utterly shocking and disappointing that G20 member nations, including the Canadian government, have failed to condemn this latest intimidation and harassment of a Kashmiri leader launched by the Modi government concurrently whitewashing their crimes using the ongoing G20,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
The frightening raid, described in a series of harrowing tweets by Shah's daughter Sehar Shabir Shah, involved regular Indian army troops and special black CAT Commandos scaling walls and forcibly entering the family house through their kitchen garden. Sehar's mother was escorted to the top floor by some troops, while the others searched the ground floor and other rooms. The troops shockingly vandalized the drawing room's furnishings and callously scattered objects throughout the house.
Sehar has advocated for the unconditional release of her father, Shah, who faces 36 years of nonconsecutive detention for his peaceful activism dedicated to Kashmiris under BJP-imposed siege. She continues documenting the traumatizing raid on her family home using social media.
While India-hosted diplomatic meetings continue in India and Kashmir, these actions raise serious concerns about India’s violation of human rights and humanitarian norms;
The prolonged arbitrary detention of Shabir Shah since 2017, along with the continued harassment faced by his family at the hands of Indian government authorities, represents a disregard for their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Justice For All Canada urgently calls upon the United Nations to launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation into this incident, ensuring that those responsible for the raid and vandalism are held accountable. We strongly urge the Indian government to uphold its obligations under international law, including respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law. Kashmiri civil society, particularly activists like Shabir Shah and his family, continue facing unacceptable threats to their lives and well-being.
Learn more about Shabir Shah here.
Justice For All Canada strongly condemns the brutal raid and egregious vandalism conducted by Indian army troops at the residence of Shabir Shah, a Kashmiri politician, human rights defender and Prisoner of Conscience. This disturbing incident transpired on May 17th, 2023, days before the G20 working group met in Kashmir’s Srinagar city.
Kashmir is a disputed region occupied by over half a million security forces under India’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. India hosts this year’s G20 Summit and has blatantly organized diplomatic meetings in occupied Kashmir, despite global outcry about state abuses against Kashmiris. Shah’s home was raided just months after he described the BJP's plan to hold the summit in Kashmir “a disinformation campaign aimed at creating a smokescreen to hide ground realities in Kashmir and to hoodwink the international community.”
“It is utterly shocking and disappointing that G20 member nations, including the Canadian government, have failed to condemn this latest intimidation and harassment of a Kashmiri leader launched by the Modi government concurrently whitewashing their crimes using the ongoing G20,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
The frightening raid, described in a series of harrowing tweets by Shah's daughter Sehar Shabir Shah, involved regular Indian army troops and special black CAT Commandos scaling walls and forcibly entering the family house through their kitchen garden. Sehar's mother was escorted to the top floor by some troops, while the others searched the ground floor and other rooms. The troops shockingly vandalized the drawing room's furnishings and callously scattered objects throughout the house.
Sehar has advocated for the unconditional release of her father, Shah, who faces 36 years of nonconsecutive detention for his peaceful activism dedicated to Kashmiris under BJP-imposed siege. She continues documenting the traumatizing raid on her family home using social media.
While India-hosted diplomatic meetings continue in India and Kashmir, these actions raise serious concerns about India’s violation of human rights and humanitarian norms;
- The raid on Shabir Shah's residence, particularly in the presence of his family members, infringes on the right to privacy, safety, and security guaranteed under Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- The wanton destruction of property violates the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions as outlined in Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- These actions contradict the principles enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the right to liberty and security of person (Article 9) and the right to a fair trial (Article 14).
The prolonged arbitrary detention of Shabir Shah since 2017, along with the continued harassment faced by his family at the hands of Indian government authorities, represents a disregard for their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Justice For All Canada urgently calls upon the United Nations to launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation into this incident, ensuring that those responsible for the raid and vandalism are held accountable. We strongly urge the Indian government to uphold its obligations under international law, including respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law. Kashmiri civil society, particularly activists like Shabir Shah and his family, continue facing unacceptable threats to their lives and well-being.
Learn more about Shabir Shah here.