Title: 11-Year-Old Kashmiri Rebel Leader’s Daughter Appeals to Visit Jailed Father in India
In a rare appeal, the 11-year-old daughter of Mohammed Yasin Malik, a prominent Kashmiri rebel leader who was sentenced to life imprisonment in India, has passionately pleaded with New Delhi to allow her to meet her ailing father. Razia Sultan made this emotional demand during her address at the regional legislative assembly in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Expressing her heartfelt yearning, Razia disclosed that she had only met her father when she was two years old and has now turned 11. She misses him immensely and deeply craves to hear his voice once again. Holding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible, she expressed her anguish and hoped that her father would be released one day, emphasizing that he was wrongfully imprisoned in a fake case.
Mohammed Yasin Malik was arrested in 2019 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment last year by an Indian court on charges of terrorism and sedition. His arrest had sparked clashes between protesters and the police in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Recently, the Indian National Investigation Agency approached the New Delhi High Court, seeking the death penalty for Malik, though the court’s ruling on this matter is still pending.
During his trial, Malik vehemently denied the charges against him, asserting that he is a freedom fighter. He fearlessly proclaimed, If seeking azadi (freedom) is a crime, then I am ready to accept this crime and its consequences.
Malik had previously led the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, one of the earliest armed rebel groups in Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, he later shifted his approach to a peaceful struggle aimed at ending Indian rule in the region. In 2009, he traveled to Pakistan, where he married Mushaal Hussein, Razia’s mother.
Kashmir, a disputed region officially divided between Pakistan and India, is claimed by both countries in its entirety. Over the years, they have fought two wars over the contested territory. Since 1989, rebels have been engaged in an ongoing battle, seeking Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. The majority of Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel’s objective of unifying the region, either under Pakistani control or as an independent nation.
The plea from an innocent 11-year-old girl longing to meet her father serves as a poignant reminder of the human impact of political conflicts. It highlights the emotional cost borne by families caught in the crossfire of deeply entrenched territorial disputes. As this heartfelt plea reverberates across nations, advocates for peace and justice hope that the voices of children like Razia Sultan will not go unheard, urging leaders to prioritize dialogue and resolution in order to alleviate the suffering endured by innocent individuals and families affected by the conflict in Kashmir.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or organization.
