RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION OF WOMEN IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Early day motion 974, tabled 27 March 2003 by Ann Cryer (Labour). Signed by 52 members.

That this House expresses its deep sense of outrage at the brutal beheading of three innocent Muslim girls and a Muslim woman in District Rajoum, Jammu and Kashmir by terrorist because they refused to wear a veil; is particularly aggrieved that women have been directed not to attend schools or colleges by religious fanatics, which harks back to the medieval attitudes of the Taliban in Afghanistan; and offers its full support to the government of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was elected in a free and fair election in October 2002 and is fully committed to equality of opportunity for all sections of Kashmiri society regardless of race, religion or gender.

Signatures by party: Labour 40, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.