Insight UK protests outside the Oxford Union, the University of Oxford’s debating body
London: On Friday, INSIGHT UK, a social organization of Indian and British Hindus in the UK, demonstrated and sang in front of Oxford Union, Oxford University’s debating club, after a discussion headlined “This House Believes in the Independent State of Kashmir.”
There were loud shouts of “It is known far and wide; Oxford Union stands on the terrorist side” as the demonstrators denounced the debate, including speakers who were suspected of having ties to terrorism.
Hindi chants such as “Bharat mata ki jai, vande matram” were yelled by students carrying banners during the demonstration outside the Oxford Union.
The protest’s message was also shared by INSIGHT UK, which added, “Jammu Kashmir WAS India, Jammu Kashmir IS India, Jammu Kashmir WILL BE India.”
In an official letter to the Oxford Union Society on Thursday, INSIGHT UK voiced concerns regarding the organization’s choice to hold a debate titled “This House Believes in the Independent State of Kashmir,” questioning the inclusion of speakers who are allegedly connected to terrorism and pointing out possible threats to the debate’s integrity.
The two invited speakers, Zafar Khan and Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur, who supported the motion, were criticized for their alleged ties to organizations associated with terrorism and violent extremism, according to a letter from the social movement that addresses issues affecting the British Hindu and Indian community in the UK.
They said that Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur had been charged with hate speech and incitement and had ties to groups that are being looked into for possible ties to terrorism.
INSIGHT UK went on to highlight Thakur’s history and the “World Kashmir Freedom Movement,” of which he is president, as well as “Mercy Universal,” which he co-founded with his father. According to reports, the FBI, the Charity Commission, and Scotland Yard in the UK have all looked into both organizations’ possible links to terrorist activity.
“Muzzammil Ayyub has often used hateful language. A lawsuit has been filed against him for using social media to incite public fear and anxiety and encourage others to conduct crimes that might disrupt public order. According to the letter, Muzammil has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The letter went on to state that “Muzammil is the president of the “World Kashmir Freedom Movement,” which was established by his father along with another organization named “Mercy Universal,” and that Scotland Yard, the Charity Commission, and the FBI looked into for connections to terrorists.
The chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Zafar Khan, was linked to a terrorist organization that preyed on the Kashmiri Hindu population.
According to the letter, the JKLF was also responsible for the 1984 abduction and murder of Indian ambassador Ravindra Mhatre in the United Kingdom.
A social movement called INSIGHT UK is committed to bringing attention to, supporting, and promoting issues that affect the British Hindu and Indian communities in the UK.
