OIC to set up human rights panel for J&K

Just when the world was coming to terms with Osama’s killing, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) has pressed India’s raw nerve by announcing setting up of a human rights commission to probe the alleged abuses in Kashmir. The OIC has also given the observer status to Hurriyat Conference and has agreed to increase the members of the body in Kashmir. This move has caused much discomfort to New Delhi.

“Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday met assistant secretary general of OIC, Abdul Aleem, in Brussels and discussed the Kashmir issue with him. Aleem told Mirwaiz that OIC was establishing a human rights commission for Kashmir and its first report would be made public soon. Aleem also expressed concern over the wanton arrests and other human rights abuses in the state,” a Hurriyat spokesperson said.

Mirwaiz is in Brussels to participate in a seminar on Kashmir. Several leaders from Pakistan are also taking part in the seminar. Pakistan’s ambassador to EU Jaleel Abbaas Jeelani and former Pakistan information minister Sherry Rehman were present in the meeting.

“Aleem announced scholarships for studies in universities across the Muslim world. He also said that Mirwaiz would visit Jeddah for further discussions,” he said.

This is the second-biggest initiative by the OIC for Kashmir. In 2009 OIC named Saudi national Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al Bakr as special envoy for the state. Buoyed by the OIC’s Kashmir overtures, Mirwaiz tried to globalise the Kashmir issue before the resumption of the dialogue process.