A Vigil for Peace and Justice in Kashmir

On Monday, May 19, 2025, HfHR held an online vigil to share prayers for peace and stand united in our calls for justice for Kashmiris and everyone affected by the escalating cycle of violence amid the military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Our vigil shared recorded messages from activists, scholars, and faith leaders from around the world. 

In response to our call for messages of peace and unity, we received so many videos that we couldn’t spotlight all of them during the event itself.

Scroll down to check out all the powerful messages of peace, love, non-violence, and unity that we received!

Sunita Viswanath, HfHR’s Executive Director Welcomes Everyone and Introduces the Vigil for Peace and Justice

Elected Officials

People with a high public profile or official political role whose presence lends visibility and authority.

Christopher Van Hollen - United States Senator for the State of Maryland

Baron Shaffaq Mohammed - Member of the United Kingdom House of Lords

Religious Leaders & Spiritual Voices

Clergy and spiritual leaders from various traditions, speaking from a faith-based moral lens.

Pandit Shivam Bhatt - Hindu Pandit and Storyteller

Swami Raghavendra - Founder of Satya Dharam Samvad

Father Cedric Prakash - Catholic Priest and Member of Society of Jesus of Gujurat

Rev. Timothy Adkins-Jones - Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, NJ

Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia - Executive Director, Religions for Peace USA

Rabbi Alissa Wise - Rabbi and Lead Organizer at Rabbis for Ceasefire

Pandit Raja Bhattar - Hindu Pandit and Inclusive Wedding Officiant

Father Anand Mathew - Interfaith Peace Activist and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Imam Refai Arefin - Imam at the Islamic Community Center of Potomac

Rumni Saha - Hindu and Unitarian Universalist Community Coordinator at Wellesley College

Abhi Jamanchi - Senior Minister at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, Maryland

Brahmacharini Shweta - Director for Dharmic Life and Hindu Spiritual Advisor

Father Dennis Leder

Peacebuilding Voices

Activists and organizers whose work bridges religious divides and promotes pluralism.

Faisal Khan - National Convener of Khudaikhidmatgar and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Afsheen Shamsi - Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Union Theological Seminary

Ani Zonneveld - Singer, Songwriter, Founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values

Mazher Hussain

Omar Haramy - Director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem

Abdelfattah Abusrour - Director of Alrowwad Cultural Arts and Society Centre in Palestine

Academics, Scholars & Intellectuals

Experts whose insights come from years of scholarship and teaching.

Cornel West - Philosopher, Theologian, Political Activist, Politician, Social Critic, and Public Intellectual

Anantanand Rambachan - Professor of Religion, Philosophy and Asian Studies, Author, and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Angana Chatterji, Scholar and Feminist Historian, University of California, Berkeley

Ania Loomba - Professor at University of Pennsylvania

Arjun Sethi

Vijay Prashad

Khalid Anis Ansari - Sociologist, Academic, Professor, and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Pervez Hoodbhoy - Pakistani Nuclear Physicist and Author

Natasha Gooneratne - Scholar of International Law and Convenor of Perspective South

Suvir Kaul - A. M. Rosenthal Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania.

VK Tripathi - Physicist and Peacebuilding Activist

Linda Hess

Artists, Authors & Cultural Figures

Those using creative work—music, dance, film, writing—for resistance and social transformation.

Dr. Mallika Sarabhai - Director, Darpana Academy and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Salil Tripathi - Author and Board Member of PEN International

Anand Patwardhan - Documentary Filmmaker

T.M. Krishna

Beena Sarwar

Human Rights & Social Justice Activists

Activists, organizers, and thinkers whose work centers on justice, caste abolition, and dignity.

Rajmohan Gandhi - Biographer, Research Professor, Hindu for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Shailly Gupta Barnes - Policy Director at the Kairos Center

Aminta Kilawan - Senior Legislative Attorney at New York City Council

Reverend Mark Thompson - Civil Rights Activist and Radio and TV Personality

Ajay Kumar - Global Convenor of the Alliance of Climate Front-Line Communities

Sandeep Pandey

Dr. Anand Teltumbde - Author, Researcher, and Hindus for Human Rights Advisory Board Member

Harsh Mander - Indian author, Columnist, Researcher, Teacher, and Social Activist who founded Karwan-e-Mohabbat

Maung Zarni - Genocide Scholar, Educator, Human Rights Activist, and Nobel Prize Nominee

Ousman Noor - Co-Director at the Civilian Agenda and Human Rights and Refugee Law Barrister

Jaideep Das - Community member Based in California

Ather Zia

Pranay Somayajula, Director of Organizing and Advocacy, Hindus for Human Rights Thank You’s and Closing Notes