By 
© Global Human Rights Defence, 2025.
The Hague, Netherlands
GHRD official press release
1st of May 2025
On May 1, under the banner “Enough is Enough,” Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) organized a peaceful but powerful protest in The Hague, demanding an immediate end to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and justice for the victims of the recent April 22 terror attacks in Kashmir, India. The protest highlighted both the continuing threat of radical terrorist violence and the need for concrete international action to end cross-border terrorism and hold perpetrators accountable.
Attacks of radical terrorist groups have long posed a serious security threat worldwide, costing civilian lives in the thousands. The April 22 attack in Kashmir, carried out by Pakistani militants and border agents, saw 26 civilians, predominantly Hindus, brutally targeted and killed, reportedly for no other reason than their religious identity. These attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a troubling pattern of religiously motivated violence against the Hindu community. During the protest, GHRD emphasized that this pattern is also mirrored in instances of hate speech and discrimination, both online and offline, including in European countries like the Netherlands.
The protest drew around 220 demonstrators according to the Dutch police, representing a wide range of age groups and backgrounds, who united in solidarity with the victims and their families. The event opened at Plein 1813 with remarks from GHRD’s Kavita Pajan, who paid tribute to the victims and expressed the strong solidarity with their families and loved ones, while she also underscored the importance of standing up against state-sponsored terrorism and the normalization of hate.
Participants observed a solemn minute of silence and chanted a peace mantra to honor the lives lost. The atmosphere, while peaceful, was charged with urgency and moral clarity. Protestors carried photographs of the 26 victims and placards calling for justice and accountability.
After the powerful opening, a sea of orange – a color symbolizing courage and sacrifice in India and beyond – swept through the city as protestors began their march from Plein 1813 to the Pakistani Embassy. Along the route, slogans such as “Pakistan, stop terrorism,” “Human rights are universal,” “Freedom of religion for all,” and “Terror knows no borders: hold Pakistan accountable” echoed through the streets. Many bystanders stopped to observe the demonstration, engage in dialogue, and express support.
Upon reaching the Pakistani Embassy, speakers reiterated a series of urgent demands: They called for an immediate end to cross-border terrorism and state-sponsored violence; accountability for those responsible for the April 22 attacks; a firm international and Dutch stance against religiously motivated violence; protection of the Hindu community and all minorities under threat; and the upholding of freedom of religion and belief without discrimination. The protest showed effect: An official from the embassy stepped outside, the protest thus seemed to be well-heard.
Protestors called on the government of Pakistan to fulfill its obligations under international human rights law and urged Dutch and international authorities to speak out against terrorism and religious persecution. The event also emphasized the broader need to combat hate speech in all forms, online and offline, against all communities, including Hindus, and to take a firm stance against the normalization of intolerance, particularly among youth and digital communities.
“This protest is not just a reaction to a single incident,” said one speaker. “It is a wake-up call to the international community. The cost of silence is too high when lives are lost and communities live in fear. We are demanding justice, accountability, and lasting peace.” Other speakers in front of the Pakistani Embassy highlighted the urgent need for application of the law to ensure accountability for the terror attacks in Kashmir and united in their fight for truth and justice. International law and society promise justice, and the protest demanded that this promise be kept.
The demonstration concluded with a march back to Plein 1813, where participants once again gathered in solidarity, affirming their commitment to human rights, justice, and peace for all regardless of religion, ethnicity, or nationality. GHRD and all participants strongly condemn any act of violence as well as any attacks on peaceful religious and ethnic communities. It is essential for a society that is dedicated to human rights, democracy and peace that such attacks are ceased immediately and not supported or sponsored by any government that wishes to be part of the international community.
Comments