’I’m not Malala, I’m free & safe in my country’: Kashmiri activist’s speech in UK goes viral

Mangalore Today News Network/News18

New Delhi, Feb 24, 2024: Kashmiri activist and journalist, Yana Mir, while speaking in the British Parliament building, condemned the propaganda by Pakistan to “dent India’s image on the international stage” and said that she is completely safe and free in “Kashmir, which is a part of India.” Mir also pointed out a distinction between herself and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and said, “I will never have to run away from my home country.”

 

“I am not a Malala Yousafzai, because I will never have to run away from my home country. I am free, and I am safe in my country India, in my home in Kashmir which is part of India,” Mir, who claims to be Kashmir’s first female vlogger, said.

 

“I am NOT a Malala Yousafzai”- Yana Mir’s speech in UK parliament. pic.twitter.com/SanBSbBFlg

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Yana Mir was addressing a “Sankalp Divas” event hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre UK (JKSC) in the British Parliament building, an ANI report said.

“I will never be a Malala Yusufzai but I object to Malala for defaming my country, my progressive homeland, by calling it oppressed. I object to all such toolkit members from social media and international media, who have never cared to visit Indian Kashmir but fabricate stories of oppression from there,” she added.

‘Stop Trying to Polarise Indian Society’

“I urge you to stop polarising Indians on the grounds of religion. We won’t allow you to break us. This year on Sankalp Divas, all I hope for is that our perpetrators living in the UK and Pakistan will stop maligning my country in international media or on international human rights forums. Stop unwanted selective outrage, stop trying to polarise Indian society by reporting from your UK living rooms. Thousands of Kashmiri mothers have already lost their sons because of terrorism. Stop coming after us and let my Kashmiri community live in peace. Thank you and Jai Hind,” Mir further said.

The Kashmiri activist also received the Diversity Ambassador Award for championing diversity in the Jammu and Kashmir region during the event.

Yana also mentioned the progress following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising improved security, government initiatives, and fund allocation.