Islamabad / Occupied Kashmir: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan strongly condemned the Indian occupying administration’s act of installing the Ashoka symbol within the premises of the revered Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar. The APHC described the act as a blatant interference in Islam and a deliberate attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Kashmiri Muslims.
APHC Secretary for Information, Mushtaq Ahmed Butt, stated that Hazratbal Shrine is a sacred spiritual center housing the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and holds exceptional sanctity in the hearts of Muslims worldwide. Installing a symbol of idolatry at such a sacred site is tantamount to an insult to the Prophet ﷺ and an attack on the fundamental Islamic belief in the oneness of Allah (Tawheed). Islam strictly prohibits all forms of idol worship, and the foundation of the Muslim faith is based on the declaration: “La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah,” which allows no room for non-Islamic symbols or statues.
He further stated that the Indian administration’s action represents a grave violation of religious freedom, aims to provoke Kashmiri citizens, and threatens regional peace. The APHC demanded the immediate removal of the Ashoka symbol from Hazratbal Shrine and warned that any future provocative acts of this nature will trigger an uncontrollable public response.
Mushtaq Ahmed Butt also appealed to the brave people of Indian-occupied Kashmir to raise a strong and unified protest against this illegal and Islamophobic act. The APHC called upon the international community, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and human rights organizations to take notice of this severe religious interference and take concrete steps to restrain India from such extremist and anti-Islamic actions.
