Islamabad: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its deep concern over the pronouncement of the life sentence to one of the most prominent Kashmiri leaders, Yasin Malik, who had been leading a peaceful freedom struggle for many decades.
Reiterating its solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their struggle for their rights including their right to self-determination, the OIC General Secretariat urged the international community to ensure that the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiris for the realisation of their rights must not be equated with terrorism.
He also called on the government of India to release all Kashmiri leaders unfairly incarcerated, halt forthwith the gross and systematic persecution of Kashmiris in IIOJK; and respect the right of the people of the disputed valley to determine their own future through a free and impartial plebiscite as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Earlier, an Indian court jailed Yasin Malik for life over several charges, including “terror funding”, triggering street protests outside his residence and condemnation from the Kashmiris diaspora worldwide. Web Desk
