Several groups of Kashmiris living in Belgium organized a protest march in Brussels, proceeding from the European Parliament to the United Nations office. They condemned the killing of innocent civilians by the Pakistan Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amidst rising unrest in the region. On Wednesday, protesters raised slogans against the Pakistan Army and sought to draw international attention to the human rights violations occurring in PoK. These violations include the suspension of essential services and the brutal use of force against protesters as unrest escalates in the occupied territory. This protest march takes place amidst a wave of demonstrations by Kashmiri groups worldwide; protesters are demanding international intervention against the brutal actions taken by Pakistani authorities in PoK. Earlier this week, the ‘Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory’ (JKHRO)—a body monitoring human rights in the region—reported that 93 civilians lost their lives during the escalating unrest in the occupied territory between June 5 and August 5.
