London: Labeling August 5 as “Kashmir Black Day,” Kashmiri citizens residing in London held a protest rally in front of the Indian High Commission today—Wednesday, August 5, 2026—demanding independence for Kashmir, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM London time. At this time, protesters carried banners and placards bearing slogans such as “Zionism and Hindutva are two sides of the same coin,” “Our voice, our rights, our Kashmir,” “Stop killing,” and “India out of Kashmir.” British Kashmiri citizens organized this protest rally under the banner of the “All-Party Kashmir Coordination,” led by Raja Sikandar Khan and Fahim Kayani. Residents of Azad Kashmir and Jammu & Kashmir living in London participated in a protest rally. The protesters marched from in front of the Indian High Commission to the vicinity of Holborn Station, then returned to the High Commission and concluded the rally with a prayer.
Speakers at the rally stated that on August 5, 2019, the Indian government revoked Articles 370 and 35A, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special rights and establishing permanent occupation over the region. At this time, the protesters chanted slogans against India and the Modi government. Their slogans were: “Our voice, our rights, our Kashmir.” Their demand was an end to the illegal occupation of Kashmir. At this time, protesters demanded the revocation of the life sentences handed down to Asiya Andrabi and Yasin Malik. They also demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Shabir Shah, Master Alam, Fahid Sofi, and Naheda Nasreen. Approximately three hundred British Kashmiri citizens, including both men and women, participated in this protest rally. The demonstrators carried flags of Kashmir and Pakistan. Raja Sikandar Khan, Arshan Mughal, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi, Tariq Khan, Ahmed Qureshi, Ms. Mohsina Bari, Ms. Sayesta Safi, Imam Ramji, Muna Beg, and others addressed the gathering.
