• Source:JND
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Members of INSIGHT UK, a social movement representing British Hindus and Indians, gathered outside the Oxford Union on Friday to protest a debate titled ‘This House Believes in the Independent State of Kashmir’. The protestors raised their voices in loud chants, including “It is known far and wide, Oxford Union stands on the terrorist side," as they condemned the university's decision to host the event.

Oxford University faced severe backlash from Indian students in the UK for inviting speakers they accused of promoting Hinduphobia during a debate on Kashmir, a region regarded as an integral part of India. The invitation of these speakers sparked strong protests, with students condemning the university for providing a platform to voices they believe undermine India's sovereignty and perpetuate divisive narratives.

Indian students were later joined by supporters from Jammu & Kashmir.  During the protest outside the Oxford Union, students held banners and chanted slogans like "Bharat mata ki jai" and ‘Vande Mataram’.

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The debate featured speakers such as Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur and Professor Zafar Khan, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Diplomatic Bureau. INSIGHT UK, a British Hindu organisation, strongly objected to the debate, condemning the presence of speakers with controversial backgrounds.

INSIGHT UK Condemns Oxford Debate Speakers Over Alleged Terror Links

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the group stated, “We have sent a formal letter to Oxford Union expressing deep concerns over their decision to host the debate. The invitation of speakers with alleged links to terrorism is particularly alarming and raises serious questions about the integrity of this debate.”

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In its letter to the Oxford Union Society, INSIGHT UK condemned the two speakers supporting the Kashmir independence motion, Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur and Zafar Khan, for alleged ties to groups linked to violent extremism and terrorism. The organisation specifically accused Thakur of incitement and hate speech, citing his alleged connections to organisations under investigation for terrorism.

Speakers opposing the motion included Prem Shankar Jha, former media advisor to Prime Minister VP Singh with experience at the UN, World Bank, and Hindustan Times, along with Yusuf Kundgol and Siddhant Nagrath.

The Oxford Union, in an Instagram post, wrote, "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?"