Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani dead at 91
SRINAGAR: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the leader of the hardline faction of the All Party Hurriyat Conference and the face of separatism in Kashmir for over three decades, died at his home in Srinagar on Wednesday. He was 91.
Geelani, a staunch Islamist who held tremendous sway over militants and sections of the Valley’s youth, is survived by his wife and six children. Known for his hardline stance, Geelani advocated for the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan and was a vocal proponent of the neighbouring country.
“Saddened by the news of Geelani sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his family & well wishers,” said former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
He died after prolonged illness at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar, his relatives told HT. “Yes he died late in the night,” a close relative said, requesting anonymity.
Born on September 29, 1929, Geelani was the undisputed leader of separatism in Kashmir and the only one who would publicly raise the cry of Azadibarai-Islam, freedom-filled Islam.
But his organisation had largely fallen silent after the nullification of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. The hardline faction didn’t even respond to recent allegations of corruption amid reports that the government was planning to ban it. His death is a big setback to the separatist movement in the Valley.
Among the youth who harboured separatist ideology, he was fondly called “Babb” (grandfather) but his opponents saw him as a hawk who was not pragmatic enough to adapt to changing situations.
For many years he was seen
as the face of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the now-banned politicoreligious organisation.
He spent around two decades in jail and ill-health since 2010 saw him largely confined to his residence. He was detained ahead of the controversial nullification of the region’s special; status in 2019 and released last year.
Among his many controversial calls was one in which he asked people to hold prayers for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. When Afzal Guru was secretly hanged in Tihar Jail in 2013 after he was convicted for the attack on Parliament, Geelani demanded that Guru’s body be handed over to his family.
Till violence first singed the Valley in 1989, Geelani stood for several elections. He thrice represented the Sopore constituency in the assembly. He also fought the Lok Sabha polls from Baramulla twice, but lost both times to the National Conference. As Kashmir slipped into unrest and chaos in 1989, Geelani hardened his position and called for a boycott of all elections. He also refused to negotiate with New Delhi unless Kashmir was accepted as an international dispute. Seen as inflexible, he even refused to meet a delegation of MPs who flew in to the Valley after the intense phase of stone pelting in 2016 that resulted in the deaths of over a hundred civilians.
He was considered a major hurdle to most peace overtures. When the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government offered to have a dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference in the 2000s, Geelani continued to advocate for the merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. His breakaway faction was not a part of the dialogue process. He authored several books including a three-volume autobiography ‘Wular Kinaray’ (By the banks of Wular) that revolved around his personal and political journey.
HE SPENT AROUND TWO DECADES IN JAIL AND ILLHEALTH SINCE 2010 SAW HIM LARGELY CONFINED TO HIS RESIDENCE.