Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Syed Ali Shah Geelani Biography

Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat leader and politician, who hails from Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir. He is the founder and leader of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Islamic party, founded on 7 August 2004. He has served as the member of legislative assembly of Jammu & Kashmir thrice before, in 1972, 1977 and 1987 state assembly elections. He has served as the chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He is one of the most influential Muslim leaders from Kashmir. Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has blamed Geelani for the rise in militancy and bloodshed in Kashmir.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani was born in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, on 29 September 1929. His education was completed at Sapore and Lahore. Known as a key separatist leader in Kashmir, who wants to free the state from India, his views have been supported and opposed by many. While Omar Abdullah calls him responsible for the rise in militancy and bloodshed in Kashmir, Omar’s father supports Syed and believed that his path would save Kashmiri people from further destruction.

Syed served as the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), a faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference four times. He founded the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat party, and served as its chairman as well. In response to the death of militants and death of civilians in Kashmir, he has called numerous general strikes or shutdowns. He was one among those who were charged with sedition charges in November 2010, along with activists Arundhati Roy and Varavara Rao and three others. While 2014 state legislative election campaigns were going on, he appealed Kashmiris to boycott the elections.

Published: February 03, 2019

Updated: February 03, 2019