NEW YORK: Rich tributes were paid to Syed Ali Shah Geelani as an “incorruptible and conscientious” Kashmiri leader who bravely struggled for the rights of oppressed people of Indian Occupied Kashmir at a convention of Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Dallas, Texas, which coincided with his 3rd death anniversary on Sunday.
Dr. Farhan Chak, a Canadian-Kashmir scholar said that Syed Ali Geelani presented Kashmir not as a separatist movement but as a legitimate struggle for self-determination. Syed Ali Shah Geelani highlighted that the true nature of resistance necessitates heroism even in the face of death, Dr. Chak remarked.
More than anyone else, the Kashmiri leader displayed exemplary bravery when in the heart of New Delhi, he called out Indian atrocities regardless of death threats, he stated. Other speakers included, Imam Nur Abdullah of Sudan, Ex-President of ISNA and Sardar Israr Ayub from Azad Kashmir.
In his address, Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum and Chairman, Kashmir Diaspora Coalition stated that Geelani Saheb, said, “No political leader in the past 50 years matched his personal integrity and strength of character as Sayed Ali Geelani.”
“New Delhi used all types of temptations as well as threat of torture to discourage him from following his path of resistance to the occupation and settler colonialism over Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr Mir stated. “India’s massive military presence as well as administrative machine in the IIOJK did not deter him from facing them off.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary-General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum has said that Syed Ali Shah Geelani was an ” intellectual, scholar, prolific writer, and above all an incorruptible and conscientious leader of Kashmiri political resistance movement.” He added that Ali Geelani always stood for the religious, cultural and social rights of the minorities, quoting his 2009 press interview in which he stated that that in an Islamic system, their rights were protected.
