British Hindus and Indians raise concerns over Oxford Union Kashmir debate speakers' alleged link to terrorism

INSIGHT UK, a social movement representing British Hindus and Indians, wrote to the Oxford Union Society on Thursday expressing concerns over its upcoming debate on Kashmiri independence. The group questioned the inclusion of two speakers, Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur and Zafar Khan, citing alleged links to terrorism and the potential harm to the integrity of the debate, according to an ANI report.

The letter highlighted accusations against Thakur, president of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, regarding hate speech and association with organizations under investigation for terrorism links.

INSIGHT UK stressed investigations by Scotland Yard, the Charity Commission, and the FBI into Thakur’s organizations, saying:

“Muzzammil is the president of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, which, along with another organization called Mercy Universal, was founded by his father and investigated by Scotland Yard, the Charity Commission, and the FBI for ties with terrorists.”

Zafar Khan, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Diplomatic Bureau, is also under scrutiny. INSIGHT UK has linked the JKLF to violence against the Kashmiri Hindu community and the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in the UK.

The letter argued that hosting this debate with these speakers undermines principles of sovereignty, endorses violence, and deviates from the Oxford Union's role as a platform for constructive dialogue. INSIGHT UK has called on the Oxford Union to reconsider the debate and its choice of speakers.

The Oxford Union, the debating society of Oxford University, announced in a post on Instagram that it will host a debate on Thursday titled "This house believes in the independent state of Kashmir."

"On Thursday, 14th November at 20.30, we will be hosting our Week 5 debate on the motion ‘this house believes in an independent state of Kashmir’. The Kashmir question, a parting gift of British colonial rule, has troubled the subcontinent since 1947 resulting in multiple wars. The continued push for Kashmiri independence has sustained a long-standing struggle, rooted in the region’s quest for self-determination and autonomy. This has led to persistent unrest, human rights concerns, and renewed demand for autonomy among the Kashmiris. While nuclear-armed neighbours vie for control and geopolitical influence, the desire for peace among the population remains strong. Could an independent Kashmir be the answer to this enduring crisis?," the Oxford Union posted on Instagram.