Please take a minute to write Prime Minister Trudeau, with copy to all Canadian members of Parliament.

August 5th will mark a year of military lockdown for the people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The Kashmiri people are faced with a brutal human rights situation of double lockdown—an aggressive military lockdown, coupled with the devasting ramifications of Covid-19.

Since August 5, 2019, when India illegally annexed Jammu and Kashmir, the people have been under an intensive militarized lock down.

The UN Secretary General called for a global ceasefire of all hostilities and urged member states to focus on fighting Covid-19. However, India has used the pandemic to escalate hostilities in the armed conflict.

Under the veil of Covid-19, the Domicile Law was introduced on March 31, 2020. This allows non-Kashmiris to acquire property and settle in the state.

The Domicile has grave implications for Kashmir’s future. Non-Kashmiris can now settle in the state, altering its demography. Meanwhile, the indigenous Kashmiri population has to apply for residency permits in order to carry on basic functions of life.

Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally disputed territory. The Indian Domicile Law allows for the settlement of its own population into an occupied area.

This is in direct contravention of international law. These actions are prohibited by Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states “the occupying power shall not transfer its own civilian population into territory it occupies.”

Under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, all High Contracting Parties, which includes Canada, are required to take action to ensure respect for the Convention “in all circumstances.”

In this regard, Canada is complicit in its silence and inaction in regard to what is happening in Indian occupied Kashmir.

A year under military lockdown, and the Canadian government remains silent on Kashmir.