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Geelani has been diagnosed with [[renal cancer]], and has been recommended by doctors to go overseas for treatment. After Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] intervened, Indian government agencies returned Geelani's passport to his son.<ref name="India Daily">{{cite web | title=Visa | publisher=IndiaDaily.com | url=http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/16014.asp}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Ailing Kashmiri separatist">{{cite web | title=Ailing Kashmiri separatist | publisher = Gulf Times |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=136912&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22}}</ref>
Geelani has been diagnosed with [[renal cancer]], and has been recommended by doctors to go overseas for treatment. After Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] intervened, Indian government agencies returned Geelani's passport to his son.<ref name="India Daily">{{cite web | title=Visa | publisher=IndiaDaily.com | url=http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/16014.asp}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Ailing Kashmiri separatist">{{cite web | title=Ailing Kashmiri separatist | publisher = Gulf Times |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=136912&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22}}</ref>


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 [[United States]] for specialized treatment.<ref name="Cancer-hit Geelani awaits travel documents">{{cite web | title=Cancer-hit Geelani awaits | publisher =India News |url=http://www.indiasnews.net/story/232351}}</ref> However his request for a visa was turned down by the Americans, and as his health deteriorated he went to [[Mumbai]] for surgery. The reason given by the US for turning down Geelani's request for a visa was, that he has criticized U.S policy of war in Iraq. 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.<ref name="US visa denial is rights violation">{{cite web | title=US visa denial is rights violation | publisher=India eNews |url=http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20070329/45196.htm}}</ref>
In 2007, Geelani had half of his only kidney removed due to a malignancy.<ref name=kashmirdispatch /> 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 [[United States]] for specialized treatment.<ref name="Cancer-hit Geelani awaits travel documents">{{cite web | title=Cancer-hit Geelani awaits | publisher =India News |url=http://www.indiasnews.net/story/232351}}</ref> However his request for a visa was turned down by the Americans, and as his health deteriorated he went to [[Mumbai]] for surgery. The reason given by the US for turning down Geelani's request for a visa was, that he has criticized U.S policy of war in Iraq. 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.<ref name="US visa denial is rights violation">{{cite web | title=US visa denial is rights violation | publisher=India eNews |url=http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20070329/45196.htm}}</ref>


On March 12, 2014, rumors of Geelani's death, spread by edits to his Wikipedia entry, "a particular Hindi news channel", and pages on Facebook led the government of Kashmir to suspend internet and phone service, according to some sources.<ref name=hindustantimes /><ref name=kashmirwatch /><ref name=authint /> However, Chief Minister [[Omar Abdullah]] said that the failures had nothing to do with Geelani's health and were due to a snapped power line as well as an optical fibre cut due to heavy snowfall; the cuts in Internet service, hours after a statement by Hurriyat that Geelani would be flown to New Delhi for medical treatment, were blamed for spreading the rumours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/geelanis-health-sparks-conspiracy-rumours-across-kashmir/1/349288.html|title=Geelani's bad health sparks conspiracy rumours across Kashmir as communication lines falter|author=Naseer Ganai|publisher=India Today|date=2014-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/internet-outage-spurs-rumour-of-geelanis-death/|title=Internet outage spurs rumour of Geelani’s death|author=Bashirat Masood|publisher=The Indian Express|date=2014-03-13}}</ref> A spokesman for Geelani said that he was recovering, while [[Hurriyat]] G<!--- no, I don't know what the "G" means ... someone please explain ---> spokesman [[Ayaz Akbar]] said that “We will take legal course of action against a particular Hindi news channel which reported false news against our leader,” and that those posting the rumors on Facebook and Wikipedia would be exposed.<ref name=hindustantimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/jammusec/wikipedia-declares-geelani-dead-in-night-sends-kashmir-administration-into-tizzy/article1-1194114.aspx|title=Wikipedia declares Geelani dead, sends Kashmir admn into tizzy|author=Peerzada Ashiq|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=2014-03-12}}</ref><ref name=kashmirwatch>{{cite web|url=http://kashmirwatch.com/news.php/2014/03/12/8216-geelani-sahab-stable-don-8217-t-give-heed-to-rumours-8217.html|title=Geelani Sahab stable, Don’t give heed to rumours|date=2014-03-12|publisher=KashmirWatch}}</ref><ref name=authint>{{cite web|url=https://www.authintmail.com/article/kashmir/wikipedia-entry-sparks-rumors-geelanis-death-govt-responds-curtailing-mobile|title=Wikipedia entry sparks rumors of Geelani's death; Govt responds by curtailing mobile internet|publisher=Authint Mail|date=2014-03-12}}</ref>
On March 12, 2014, rumors of Geelani's death, spread by edits to his Wikipedia entry, "a particular Hindi news channel", and pages on Facebook led the government of Kashmir to suspend internet and phone service, according to some sources.<ref name=hindustantimes /><ref name=kashmirwatch /><ref name=authint /> However, Chief Minister [[Omar Abdullah]] said that the failures had nothing to do with Geelani's health and were due to a snapped power line as well as an optical fibre cut due to heavy snowfall; the cuts in Internet service, hours after a statement by Hurriyat that Geelani would be flown to New Delhi for medical treatment, were blamed for spreading the rumours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/geelanis-health-sparks-conspiracy-rumours-across-kashmir/1/349288.html|title=Geelani's bad health sparks conspiracy rumours across Kashmir as communication lines falter|author=Naseer Ganai|publisher=India Today|date=2014-01-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/internet-outage-spurs-rumour-of-geelanis-death/|title=Internet outage spurs rumour of Geelani’s death|author=Bashirat Masood|publisher=The Indian Express|date=2014-03-13}}</ref> A spokesman for Geelani said that he was recovering, while [[Hurriyat]] G<!--- no, I don't know what the "G" means ... someone please explain ---> spokesman [[Ayaz Akbar]] said that “We will take legal course of action against a particular Hindi news channel which reported false news against our leader,” and that those posting the rumors on Facebook and Wikipedia would be exposed.<ref name=hindustantimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/jammusec/wikipedia-declares-geelani-dead-in-night-sends-kashmir-administration-into-tizzy/article1-1194114.aspx|title=Wikipedia declares Geelani dead, sends Kashmir admn into tizzy|author=Peerzada Ashiq|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=2014-03-12}}</ref><ref name=kashmirwatch>{{cite web|url=http://kashmirwatch.com/news.php/2014/03/12/8216-geelani-sahab-stable-don-8217-t-give-heed-to-rumours-8217.html|title=Geelani Sahab stable, Don’t give heed to rumours|date=2014-03-12|publisher=KashmirWatch}}</ref><ref name=authint>{{cite web|url=https://www.authintmail.com/article/kashmir/wikipedia-entry-sparks-rumors-geelanis-death-govt-responds-curtailing-mobile|title=Wikipedia entry sparks rumors of Geelani's death; Govt responds by curtailing mobile internet|publisher=Authint Mail|date=2014-03-12}}</ref>


Geelani was offered a flight in a government helicopter on March 11, but chose to take a routine flight March 12 instead on the basis that he could not accept a benefit from a government "working to strengthen the occupation", according to Ayaz Akbar, who said,“We believe government wants to gain political mileage out of Geelani's illness as seen in the past. When he was in Ranchi prison, the then chief minister [[Mufti Muhammad Sayeed]] helped Geelani to shift him to Mumbai hospital where he was treated for kidney cancer. Till date, Mufti beats the drum that he helped Geelani. Keeping this in view, we rejected the government offer of using a chopper.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Mar/13/geelani-refuses-to-travel-in-govt-chopper-11.asp|title=
Geelani was offered a flight in a government helicopter on March 11, but chose to take a routine flight March 12 instead on the basis that he could not accept a benefit from a government "working to strengthen the occupation", according to Ayaz Akbar, who said,“We believe government wants to gain political mileage out of Geelani's illness as seen in the past. When he was in Ranchi prison, the then chief minister [[Mufti Muhammad Sayeed]] helped Geelani to shift him to Mumbai hospital where he was treated for kidney cancer. Till date, Mufti beats the drum that he helped Geelani. Keeping this in view, we rejected the government offer of using a chopper.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Mar/13/geelani-refuses-to-travel-in-govt-chopper-11.asp|title=
Geelani refuses to travel in Govt chopper|publisher=Greater Kashmir|date=2014-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirdispatch.com/headlines/120321237-geelani-refuses-to-use-kashmir-govt-s-chopper.htm|title=Geelani refuses to use govt's chopper|date=2013-01-12|publisher=Kashmir Dispatch}}</ref>
Geelani refuses to travel in Govt chopper|publisher=Greater Kashmir|date=2014-03-12}}</ref><ref name=kashmirdispatch>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirdispatch.com/headlines/120321237-geelani-refuses-to-use-kashmir-govt-s-chopper.htm|title=Geelani refuses to use govt's chopper|date=2013-01-12|publisher=Kashmir Dispatch}}</ref> Geelani had been arrested and put under house arrest the week before the flight, after returning from New Delhi for a previous treatment, but further treatment for severe chest infection became necessary.<ref>{{cite web|title=http://paktribune.com/news/Syed-Ali-Shah-Geelani-ailing-to-be-flown-to-Delhi-267505.html|publisher=Pak Tribune|date=2014-03-13}}</ref> Viewed as a major advocate of the secession of Kashmir and its union with Pakistan, he has been under house arrest for most of the time since 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepresskashmir.com/is-ailing-geelani-leading-face-of-kashmirs-separatist-campaign-065510/|title=Is Ailing Geelani Leading Face Of Kashmir’s Separatist Campaign?|publisher=Free Kashmir|author=Kainaat Mushtaq|date=2014-03-10}}</ref> [[Shabir Ahmad Shah]] blamed the ongoing house arrest for his deteriorating condition.<ref name=kashimirdispatch />


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Revision as of 09:33, 13 March 2014

Syed Ali Shah Geelani
سید علی شاہ گیلانی
All Parties Hurriyat Conference(G)
Personal details
Born (1929-09-29) 29 September 1929 (age 94)
Zoorimunz, Bandipora, Kashmir, India
Political partyTehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu & Kashmir
Websitehttp://www.huriyatconference.com http://www.syedaligeelani.info

Syed Ali Shah Geelani (Urdu: سید علی شاہ گیلانی; born 29 September 1929)[1] is a separatist leader from Jammu and Kashmir. He was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded his own party by the name of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He has served as the chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir. He is an Ex MLA from the Sopore constituency of Jammu and Kashmir.

Political activism

In November 2011, Geelani called for peaceful protests against the alleged "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.[2] Geelani recently figured in the news when he condemned the killing of Osama Bin Laden by the US.[3]

Criticism

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah has blamed Geelani for the rise in militancy and bloodshed in Kashmir, while Omar's father and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah has urged Geelani to follow a path which would "save Kashmiri people from further destruction".[4][5]

He was criticized 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).[6] In July 2012, a National Conference leader accused Geelani of being a double agent. He alleged that while he receives pension from the Government for his membership of J&K Legislative assembly prior to 1990.

Illness

Geelani has been diagnosed with renal cancer, and has been recommended by doctors to go overseas for treatment. After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened, Indian government agencies returned Geelani's passport to his son.[7] 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.[8]

In 2007, Geelani had half of his only kidney removed due to a malignancy.[9] 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 United States for specialized treatment.[10] However his request for a visa was turned down by the Americans, and as his health deteriorated he went to Mumbai for surgery. The reason given by the US for turning down Geelani's request for a visa was, that he has criticized U.S policy of war in Iraq. 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.[11]

On March 12, 2014, rumors of Geelani's death, spread by edits to his Wikipedia entry, "a particular Hindi news channel", and pages on Facebook led the government of Kashmir to suspend internet and phone service, according to some sources.[12][13][14] However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the failures had nothing to do with Geelani's health and were due to a snapped power line as well as an optical fibre cut due to heavy snowfall; the cuts in Internet service, hours after a statement by Hurriyat that Geelani would be flown to New Delhi for medical treatment, were blamed for spreading the rumours.[15][16] A spokesman for Geelani said that he was recovering, while Hurriyat G spokesman Ayaz Akbar said that “We will take legal course of action against a particular Hindi news channel which reported false news against our leader,” and that those posting the rumors on Facebook and Wikipedia would be exposed.[12][13][14]

Geelani was offered a flight in a government helicopter on March 11, but chose to take a routine flight March 12 instead on the basis that he could not accept a benefit from a government "working to strengthen the occupation", according to Ayaz Akbar, who said,“We believe government wants to gain political mileage out of Geelani's illness as seen in the past. When he was in Ranchi prison, the then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed helped Geelani to shift him to Mumbai hospital where he was treated for kidney cancer. Till date, Mufti beats the drum that he helped Geelani. Keeping this in view, we rejected the government offer of using a chopper.”[17][9] Geelani had been arrested and put under house arrest the week before the flight, after returning from New Delhi for a previous treatment, but further treatment for severe chest infection became necessary.[18] Viewed as a major advocate of the secession of Kashmir and its union with Pakistan, he has been under house arrest for most of the time since 2010.[19] Shabir Ahmad Shah blamed the ongoing house arrest for his deteriorating condition.[20]

Notes

  1. ^ "Geelani calls himself". Times of India. 1 May 2003.
  2. ^ M Saleem Pandit (2011-11-18). "Protests in Kashmir against 'blasphemy' on Facebook". The Times of India. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  3. ^ http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=236303
  4. ^ "Farooq, Omar lash out at Geelani". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 29 April 2007.
  5. ^ "Farooq asks Geelani to adopt a path which can save people". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 8 September 2007.
  6. ^ "Manmohan reviews job plan for Jammu & Kashmir". The Hindu. September 26, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  7. ^ "Visa". IndiaDaily.com.
  8. ^ "Ailing Kashmiri separatist". Gulf Times.
  9. ^ a b "Geelani refuses to use govt's chopper". Kashmir Dispatch. 2013-01-12.
  10. ^ "Cancer-hit Geelani awaits". India News.
  11. ^ "US visa denial is rights violation". India eNews.
  12. ^ a b Peerzada Ashiq (2014-03-12). "Wikipedia declares Geelani dead, sends Kashmir admn into tizzy". Hindustan Times.
  13. ^ a b "Geelani Sahab stable, Don't give heed to rumours". KashmirWatch. 2014-03-12.
  14. ^ a b "Wikipedia entry sparks rumors of Geelani's death; Govt responds by curtailing mobile internet". Authint Mail. 2014-03-12.
  15. ^ Naseer Ganai (2014-01-13). "Geelani's bad health sparks conspiracy rumours across Kashmir as communication lines falter". India Today.
  16. ^ Bashirat Masood (2014-03-13). "Internet outage spurs rumour of Geelani's death". The Indian Express.
  17. ^ "Geelani refuses to travel in Govt chopper". Greater Kashmir. 2014-03-12.
  18. ^ "http://paktribune.com/news/Syed-Ali-Shah-Geelani-ailing-to-be-flown-to-Delhi-267505.html". Pak Tribune. 2014-03-13. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  19. ^ Kainaat Mushtaq (2014-03-10). "Is Ailing Geelani Leading Face Of Kashmir's Separatist Campaign?". Free Kashmir.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference kashimirdispatch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

{{Persondata | NAME =Geelani, Syed Ali Shah | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Gandalf, Sher-e-Kashmir, Gazi-e-Kashmir, Qaid, Lion of Kashmir, Bab | SHORT DESCRIPTION = Kashmiri Politician, Islamic Figure | DATE OF BIRTH =29 September 1929 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Zoorimunz, Bandipora

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