Kashmiri activists protest outside BBC, CNN offices in London – Newspaper

LONDON: Dozens of activists gathered in front of the headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) here on Thursday, demanding coverage of the ongoing crisis in Kashmir controlled by India. A similar demonstration took place outside the London office of Cable News Network (CNN).

Protesters held up posters and chanted slogans such as "BBC, wake up", "CNN, wake up" and "we want freedom" while meeting in front of the offices of the two media organizations.

Several protesters said their tax money, which finances the BBC, it is being used, but human rights abuses in the occupied valley are not highlighted.

"We are contributors, we have the right to know what is happening with our loved ones in occupied Kashmir. The BBC is ignoring the issue, as is the CNN," said Mahboob Chaudhry of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.

A protester said that by not covering the abuse of human rights in occupied Kashmir, the media are not fulfilling their responsibility to hold India accountable for their actions.

“They are not reporting on the situation in Kashmir. They have a duty to highlight this abuse, "said Javaid Rashid, who lives in Ilford.

"Our voices must be strong enough to be heard by those inside these offices," another protester was heard saying.

A spokesman for the BBC He said: “The BBC has provided extensive coverage of the situation in Kashmir. Like other broadcasters, we have been operating under severe restrictions, but we will continue to report what is happening impartially and precisely. "

Occupied Kashmir has been under a communications blackout for almost two months since the Indian government led by Narendra Modi revoked Article 370, stripping the disputed region of its special status.

The few accounts that arise from the occupied region speak of families living under curfew, and some reports say that Indian forces torture activists and commit excesses against protesters.

Posted on Dawn, September 27, 2019