Emma McClarkin MEP speaks at Derby Kashmiri Conference

East Midlands Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin was at the Pakistani Community Centre in Derby on Friday to meet with community leaders on the anniversary of the death of Mohammed Maqbool Butt Shahid.

The event, organised by the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement (JKSDM) Raja Najabat Hussein, was also attended by two local MPs – Heather Wheeler, Conservative MP for South Derbyshire, and Pauline Latham, Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire. Also in attendance were community activists and representatives of the Kashmiri community.

Speaking afterwards, Emma said, “Like the Kashmiri community in the East Midlands I too am concerned about the situation in Kashmir and welcome this continued dialogue.”

“The Human Rights violations must stop immediately, we cannot allow these to continue, and I will be writing to the Foreign Secretary William Hague MP to ask him to take action.”

“I have already written to the European Commission and will be writing again on my return asking what the European Union is doing about the Kashmir issue.”

“I was particularly pleased to speak to the Women’s Kashmiri conference and hear their views.”

Mr Hussein added, “We pay tribute to Maqbool Butt Shahid and all others who have given their lives for the noble cause of freedom for the people of Kashmir”

“We want to remind the international community of its obligations to the people of Kashmir, they must play their part to stop the Human rights violations taking place in Kashmir. Kashmir deserves peace and prosperity that can only come with the right of self determination of its peoples”