The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has slammed the new domicile law introduced by India in the occupied valley of Kashmir in order to change demographic composition of the territory.

In a tweet, the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission said the agency condemns the promulgation of illegal ‘Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Order 2020’ by India which is an attempt to alter demographic and geographic status of the occupied territory. “#OIC-IPHRC condemns the promulgation of illegal “J&K Reorg Order 2020″ by India which is an attempt to alter demographic and geographic status of the Indian #Occupied #Kashmir,” the tweet read.

It stressed that the latest Indian action is violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, OIC and UN Security Council resolutions. The commission demanded of India to stop human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, abolish draconian laws and give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. “It violates int’l #HR and humanitarian laws incl 4th Geneva Conv + #OIC & #UNSC Res. India must put an end to HR abuses in #IOK repeal draconian laws & let #Kashmiris exercise Rt to SD,” it added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has also strongly condemned the new law, calling it a violation of all international laws and treaties. Saying the timing of the move was ‘particularly reprehensible’, Khan said the action sought to exploit the international focus on the Covid-19 pandemic to further the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindutva agenda.

Last month, Pakistan had called on India to lift the communication blockade imposed in the occupied valley and ensure supplies of essential commodities in the valley to contain the spread of Covid-19 and mitigate the suffering of Kashmiris.

The Indian government had on August 5, 2019 repealed Article 370 of its constitution, stripping occupied Kashmir of its special status. It also divided up occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories; one Jammu and Kashmir, and the other the Buddhist-dominated high altitude region of Ladakh. The bifurcation of the territory came into effect on October 31 last year.