Celebrities stand with Kashmir

This past week the Indian government moved 10,000 troops to Kashmir, placing the valley under lockdown. What followed was a gross violation of human rights. Raising their voice against the atrocities, Pakistani celebrities took to social media condemning the actions taken by the Indian government.Artists such as Hamza Ali Abbasi, Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat, Mawra Hocane, Shaan Shahid, Ali Rehman Khan and many others have raised their voices against the injustices taking place in Kashmir.“I appeal to all Pakistani artists, especially those with the most following on social media, ask yourselves with utmost sincerity that why do you not raise a voice for KASHMIR? Is it because you genuinely think it won’t make a difference?” tweeted Hamza Ali Abbasi and urged fellow artists to speak up.“If in your heart you realise that there is zulm (barbarity) on a mass scale in our very backyard and you should raise a voice (that’s the least we can do) but you still stay silent, then remember that this fan following will become your biggest trial and you will be answerable for this silence in front of your Lord,” added Abbasi.Besides Abbasi, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Mahira Khan also expressed her disappointment. “Have we conveniently blocked what we don’t want to address? This is beyond lines drawn on sand, it’s about innocent lives being lost! Heaven is burning and we silently weep,” read her Twitter post. While Mehwish Hayat wrote that there is no justification for the use of cluster bombs and that the world has to wake up and put a stop to these atrocities NOW!, Shaan Shahid (referring to a picture of Narender Modi) wrote that “Bathing in Ganges will not wash away the blood of the martyrs of Kashmir.”Tweeting about the ongoing tensions, Mawra Hocane questioned, “Where is UNHCR? It’s inhumane. Do we live in such dark times? Countless conventions to protect human lives? What about all the rights and rules we are taught in the books? Do they mean anything?”Ali Rehman Khan also spoke up about the brutality Kashmiris have been facing for decades. “Why the hell is the world not opening its eyes to what’s happening in Kashmir! #KashmirBleeds and no major news channel is talking about it. Why isn’t the UN talking about the brutality? #SaveKashmirSOS,” wrote Khan on his official Twitter handle.Apart from these celebs, Feroze Khan, Hareem Farooq and Armeena Khan also showed support to Kashmiris residing in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

from The News International - Instep Today https://ift.tt/2MFE7WB