BIRMINGHAM (PNI) Kashmiri diaspora held a conference in the UK to recall and pay tributes to resistance icon Shaheed Syed Ali Geelani.
The conference held a detailed discussion life and times of Geelani, who attained martyrdom on Sept. 01 in 2021 at his Hyderpora residence where India had put him under illegal house arrest.
Geelani, 91, was ailing for long due to his illegal house arrest and long jail terms by Indian military regime in Kashmir.
The Indian occupying forces raided his residence in Hyderpora area in uptown Srinagar, and abducted his body for forcible burial against his wishes and those of his millions of followers.
Holding special prayers for Geelani and Kashmiri martyrs, the participants paid glowing tributes to the resistance icon.
“Shaheed Geelani Sahab immortalized the Kashmiri resistance against India,” exclaimed Fahim Kayani, leader of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK.
The sacrifices made by Geelani, Fahim stressed, “teaches us that no one is above resistance movements as blood of martyrs for this beloved cause is more sacred than anything else.”
“Geelani Sahab’s whole life is an example of commitments and dedication but he did not budge to shed his blood for his people,” Kayani recalled, urging steadfastness among Kashmiris.
Muhammad Ghalib, senior Kashmiri diaspora leader, emphasized on making Geelani Sahab’s lifetime as “role model for our young generations.”
“It is important to note that Geelani Sahab had been warning us for decades that India will artificially change demography of Kashmir and his every word is being proven right as Hindu fascist regime of Modi is engaged in settler colonialism in Kashmir,” said Ghalib, who leads Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe chapter.
Calling on Kashmiri leadership to heed to “disturbing situation on ground” in Kashmir, Ghalib said: “India has imposed graveyard silence in occupied Kashmir which should give us ample time to strategize at international platforms.”
Backing Ghalib’s suggestion, Afzal Butt Present PFUJ said lobbying and diplomatic efforts are important to keep Kashmir ringing in the ears of international community.
Role of Pakistan, Kashmiri diaspora is “important to raise Kashmir every now and then,” said Butt.
Other participants including Kashmiri poet Arif Khawajah , Qamar Abbas , Abid Khawajah, Mirza Nazir , Farooq Qadari , Dr Khurram Bashir , Dr Bashir Zahir , Ghazanfar Ali,Hafiz Muhammad Idrees and Sarfraz Madani in their glowing tributes to Shaheed Geelani, stressed on using literature produced by the slain Kashmiri leader to spread awareness outside Kashmir and Pakistan.
Geelani is lifetime supreme leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference – the alliance of resistance groupings in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
As a senior leader of Jamaa’t-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, Geelani had formed Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir in 2004 along with Shaheed Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai to lead the resistance movement against colonial rule of India.
Sehrai attained martyrdom in May 2021 while in a jail in Udhampur.
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