OIC rights body condemns India’s new Kashmir domicile law

Municipal workers spray disinfectant on a square during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Srinagar on March 30, 2020. (AFP)

• New rules allow Indian citizens to become permanent residents in Indian-administered Kashmir
• Says India must let Kashmiris exercise right to self-determination

LAHORE: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, an advisory body of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said on Friday it condemned India’s new domicile laws-- calling them “draconian” and a “violation” of international and humanitarian laws.
On Wednesday, Delhi announced new controversial rules for Indian citizens residing in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The rules have come eight months after the territory’s special legal status was abrogated by the Indian parliament amid international uproar. As part of the new laws, any Indian citizen who has lived in the Indian-administered territory for 15 years can call Jammu & Kashmir their place of domicile or permanent residency.
In a series of Twitter posts, the rights body said it condemned the promulgation of the reorganization law by India, and called it “an attempt to alter demographic and geographic status” of the territory.
India must put an end to human rights abuses and let Kashmiris exercise their right to self determination, the OIC body said, and criticized the act for being draconian and violating international human rights laws, including those of the Geneva convention, the OIC and the United Nations.
Pakistan has consistently called on India to end its strict communication blockade in the valley and to ensure essential supplies can reach Kashmiris during a rising covid-19 outbreak in the region.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the new Indian domicile law as illegal and said the timing of the act amid the pandemic was reprehensible.