Yasin Malik: Defiant And Unbroken In The Fight For Kashmir’s Freedom

By Our Special Correspondent

Washington, D.C. – Mowahid Hussain Shah, speaking at the site of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, August 24, lauded the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi in struggling against racial injustice and oppression in South Africa for 21 years. Mowahid stated that he had visited Birla House in Delhi, where Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948, by Nathuram Godse who, at that time, was a member of the RSS which, by common scholarly consensus, is a hate group that incites violence against Muslims and minorities.

The irony of fate, Mowahid noted, is that the ideology which murdered Mahatma Gandhi is ruling and dominating India today, in that Narendra Modi was and is a member of RSS. He said that not for nothing was Modi banned from entering America for 10 years because the U.S. State Department had actual evidence of his direct complicity in the Gujarat anti-Muslim pogroms and massacres when Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Mowahid made it a point to welcome Rhonda Hamilton, D.C. mayoral candidate, as well as her campaign manager, Beatrice Evans. Mowahid cited the legacy of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. He connected Ali’s never-quit attitude with the indomitability of Yasin Malik, with whom, Mowahid emphasized, he was honoured to share a panel on Capitol Hill on July 20, 2006.

Mowahid also said that it is important to connect with the power of civil society, which was at its most effective during the anti-apartheid movement that led to the release of Nelson Mandela and the dismantling of apartheid. He also alluded to Bhagat Singh, who was hanged by the British on March 23, 1931, for resisting British colonial hegemony.

Mowahid said it was important to connect with important segments of Indian civil society who are ashamed and deeply apprehensive of what Modi is doing to India. He reiterated the “power of 1”, reminding how a young girl, Darnella Frazier, recorded the murder of George Floyd, providing evidence that led to the conviction of several police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Yasin Malik, he stated, stands tall and unafraid and, most importantly, he remains undefeated, in the cause of Kashmir. Mowahid recalled the example of his dervish father, Col. Amjad Hussain Sayed, who, on his deathbed, gave the parting advice to always speak Kalma-e-Haq. Mowahid said that all well-wishers of humanity and proponents of fairness in Kashmir, and advocating for the release of Yasin Malik, should not be bashful in speaking out loud and clear.

Mowahid’s remarks were particularly appreciated by Rhonda Hamilton and her entourage, who said they found it particularly inspirational. Mowahid also quoted the struggles raised by Malcolm X, who was not afraid to speak truth to power.