Syed Ali Shah Geelani
Encyclopedia
Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a prominent Islamist political leader from Jammu and Kashmir
.
in Lahore
.
He has two sons named Naseem and Nayeem, and five daughters. He is regarded as a separatist by Government authorities for his anti-india campaigns in Jammu and Kashmir
. He is the chief of a separatist Islamist party Hurriyat (G) and now lives in Hyderpora section of capital city Srinagar.
but later dissolved it and became a member of Jamaat-e-Islami
, Jammu and Kashmir. However, due to a sequence of events, he has reformed his own party, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat
, which is now a component of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference
, of which he is the Chairman also.
He was criticized for his inflammatory speech at a seminar in New Delhi held in October 2010 for his views, because of which he could potentially face sedition charges under section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Geelani recently figured in the news when he condemned the killing of Osama Bin Laden
by the US.
In November 2011, Geelani called for peaceful protests against the "objectionable anti-Islamic" content on the social networking website Facebook
, which he described as a "satanic audacity". His call triggered protests in various parts of the Kashmir valley, leading to minor clashes between the protestors and the security forces.
intervened, Indian government agencies returned Geelani's passport to his son. His passport was seized in 1981 due to accusations of "anti-India" activities, and with the exception of his Hajj
pilgrimage in 2006, he has not been allowed to leave India.
During a regular check-up doctors discovered that Geelani's "only kidney has developed malignancy". An infection forced doctors, four years ago, to remove his left kidney. Although the cancer was in its early stages, it was life threatening, and he needed to have surgery. Following the advice of his doctors at Apollo Hospital, Geelani was set to travel to either the UK or the US for specialized treatment. However his request for a visa was turned down by the Americans, and as his health deteriorated he went to Mumbai
for surgery. Doctors at the Tata Memorial Hospital
successfully performed surgery on his kidney. The reason given by the US for turning down Geelani's request for a visa was, that he has" failed to renounce violence". This decision was alleged to be a violation of human rights by his supporters and family, but the US decision received gratuitous support from other corners.
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
.
Early life
Syed Geelani was born in a town called Zoorimunz, Bandipora, in North Kashmir. After his preliminary education in Sopore, he went on to graduate from the Oriental CollegeOriental College, Lahore
Punjab University Oriental College, commonly known as Oriental College, is an old institution of oriental studies in Lahore. It is next in location to Government College, Lahore.It was founded by Adi Brahmo Samaj preacher Pundit Navin Chandra Rai in 1876...
in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
.
He has two sons named Naseem and Nayeem, and five daughters. He is regarded as a separatist by Government authorities for his anti-india campaigns in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
. He is the chief of a separatist Islamist party Hurriyat (G) and now lives in Hyderpora section of capital city Srinagar.
Political activism
In his early life, he formed a party by the name Tehreek-e-HurriyatTehreek-e-Hurriyat
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat is one of the constituent parties of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. The party was founded on 7 August 2004 by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for the "resolution of the Kashmir dispute"...
but later dissolved it and became a member of Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami
This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
, Jammu and Kashmir. However, due to a sequence of events, he has reformed his own party, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat is one of the constituent parties of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. The party was founded on 7 August 2004 by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for the "resolution of the Kashmir dispute"...
, which is now a component of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference
All Parties Hurriyat Conference
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference is a political front formed as an alliance of 26 political, social and religious organizations in Kashmir. It was formed achieving the right of self-determination according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 47...
, of which he is the Chairman also.
He was criticized for his inflammatory speech at a seminar in New Delhi held in October 2010 for his views, because of which he could potentially face sedition charges under section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Geelani recently figured in the news when he condemned the killing of Osama Bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
by the US.
In November 2011, Geelani called for peaceful protests against the "objectionable anti-Islamic" content on the social networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, which he described as a "satanic audacity". His call triggered protests in various parts of the Kashmir valley, leading to minor clashes between the protestors and the security forces.
Illness
Geelani has been diagnosed with renal cancer, and has been recommended by doctors to go overseas for treatment. After Prime Minister Manmohan SinghManmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
intervened, Indian government agencies returned Geelani's passport to his son. His passport was seized in 1981 due to accusations of "anti-India" activities, and with the exception of his Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
pilgrimage in 2006, he has not been allowed to leave India.
During a regular check-up doctors discovered that Geelani's "only kidney has developed malignancy". An infection forced doctors, four years ago, to remove his left kidney. Although the cancer was in its early stages, it was life threatening, and he needed to have surgery. Following the advice of his doctors at Apollo Hospital, Geelani was set to travel to either the UK or the US for specialized treatment. However his request for a visa was turned down by the Americans, and as his health deteriorated he went to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
for surgery. Doctors at the Tata Memorial Hospital
Tata Memorial Hospital
The Tata Memorial Hospital is situated in Parel, Mumbai in India. It is a specialist cancer treatment and research centre, closely associated with the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer . One of the fields of specialization of this hospital is in the treatment of acute...
successfully performed surgery on his kidney. The reason given by the US for turning down Geelani's request for a visa was, that he has" failed to renounce violence". This decision was alleged to be a violation of human rights by his supporters and family, but the US decision received gratuitous support from other corners.