Tensions in Indian occupied Kashmir escalated Sunday night, as Indian authorities deployed thousands of troops in the region and imposed a lock down. According to an AFP reporter, communication lines are restricted, with private mobile networks, internet services and telephone landlines being cut.
In what is being touted as the darkest period for Kashmir since the partition of the sub-continent, India has also decided to revoke the special status for Kashmir, under which the princely state had originally agreed to join India in 1947. The political climate is uncertain and according to reports, tensions along the LoC have escalated by a great measure, with civilians being killed; tourists have also been asked to evacuate the region.
In a show of solidarity with Kashmir and in an effort to bring attention to the crisis, #StandWithKashmir has been trending on Twitter, with a number of celebrities with large followings also tweeting about it.
Celebrities like Hamza Ali Abbasi, Mahira Khan, Shaan Shahid, Mawra Hocane, and Mehwish Hayat, amongst others, are using their platform to address the issue and shed some much needed light on it.
Tweeting with the hashtag #KashmireUnderThreat, actor Hamza Ali Abbasi urged the fraternity to raise their voices against the injustices being inflicted on Kashmir and its people. “If in your heart you realize that there is zulm on a mass scale in our very backyard & 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 & you’ll be answerable for this silence in front of your Lord,” he tweeted.
(1/3) I appeal to all Pakistani artists, especially those with the most following on social media, ask urselves with utmost sincerity tht why do u not raise a voice for KASHMIR? Is it bcz u genuinely think it won't make a difference? Or…. #KashmirUnderThreat
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) August 4, 2019
(2/3) or u really believe tht ur not factually aware enough to make ur mind/give any comment on this matter? Or is it bcz u dont want to get involved in this bcz it.ll effect ur Indian fan following or future work prospects thr? Plz hear me out as i mean this in good will and…
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) August 4, 2019
(3/3) If in ur heart u realise tht thr is zulm on a mass scale in our very backyard & u shud raise a voice (thts the least we can do) but u still stay silent, then rmembr tht this fan following will become ur biggest trial & u.ll be answerable for this silence infront of ur Lord.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) August 4, 2019
In typical fashion, Shaan took a dig at Indian Prime Minister Modi, posting a picture of him bathing in the Ganges with a powerful caption:
Bathing in Ganges will not wash away , the blood of the martyrs of Kashmir. #kashmirbleeds . pic.twitter.com/z2XYOBAbPF
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) August 4, 2019
Veena Malik, who has earlier worked in India for an extended time period, also voiced her dissent with the actions of the Indian government. “Independence is the fundamental right of Kashmiri people and no one can deprive them of their basic right through the use of force,” she stated.
https://twitter.com/iVeenaKhan/status/1158000445404700672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1158000445404700672&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2028344%2F4-standwithkashmir-pakistani-celebrities-speak-indian-atrocities%2F
She also posted a picture flipping off the ‘Indian brutality in Kashmir’:
https://twitter.com/iVeenaKhan/status/1157746702566248448
Mehwish Hayat also addressed the situation, pointing out how Indians are blatantly committing war crimes:
The use of cluster bombs in Kashmir is in clear violation of the Geneva Convention. There is no justification for it whatsoever. These are simple war crimes – the world has to wake up and put a stop to these atrocities NOW! #SaveKashmirSOS #KashmirBleeds
— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) August 4, 2019
Actress Mawra Hocane, who also holds a law degree, also questioned the world’s silence. Demanding attention for the crisis, Mawra raised important questions; “Where is UNHRC? It’s inhumane. Do we live in such dark times? Countless conventions to protect human lives? What about all the rights & rules we are taught in the books? Do they mean anything?” she asked.Â
I can NOT sleep tonight.#Kashmir
What are we turning this world into? Why are we killing each other? What do we want?
Is power really so important for mankind?
God!!! Help us all!!!! 💔— MAWRA HOCANE (Hussain) (@MawraHocane) August 4, 2019
Where is UNHRC?
It’s inhumane. #Kashmir
Do we live in such dark times ?Countless conventions to protect human lives? What about all the rights & rules we are taught in the books? Do they mean anything? #SaveLivesinKashmir #KashmirBleed @UN @UNICEF_Pakistan— MAWRA HOCANE (Hussain) (@MawraHocane) August 4, 2019
Mahira Khan, who is never the one to keep silent on important issues, took to Twitter to raise concern. “Have we conveniently blocked what we don’t want to address?” she questioned.
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. #Istandwithkashmir #kashmirbleeds
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) August 5, 2019
Actor and producer, Hareem Farooq, issued a call for action from her followers and questioned why the world refuses to acknowledge the severity of the Kashmir crisis:
Why is the world quite?!?! How come this brutality in kashmir is being ignored?!? Have we lost all humanity!!!?! Its time to raise our voices!! Its time to stand with kashmir! Its time to end this brutality and injustice!#KashmirBleeds #KashmirNeedsAttention
— Hareem Farooq (@FarooqHareem) August 4, 2019
Ali Rehman Khan also wondered why the UN was still mum about the issue and why no major news channels are reporting as extensively as they should be:
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. wby isn’t the UN talking about the brutality?? #SaveKashmirSOS
— Ali Rehman Khan (@alirehmankhan) August 4, 2019
Actor Adnan Malik prayed for peace in the region, and for the international community to take notice:
These are dark times for Kashmir. Panic created, troops built up, section 144 imposed, internet cut, Indian tourists asked to leave. May there be peace in Kashmir, may sanity prevail and may the international community take notice. #IStandWithKashmir #kashmirbleeds
— adnanmalik (@adnanmalik) August 5, 2019
Feroze Khan also showed solidarity with the Kashmiri people:
I am KASHMIR #KashmirBleeds #StandwithKashmir
— Feroze Khan (@ferozekhaan) August 5, 2019
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