Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader, is being commemorated on his third death anniversary on September 1, 2024. A shutdown is being observed in the occupied Kashmir valley to mark the occasion.
Born in 1929 in Zoori Munj village, Bandipore district, Geelani received his education from Wazir Khan Mosque's madrasa and Oriental College in Lahore. His professional life included roles as a reporter for the newspaper Khidmat and teaching positions at Pather Masjid Srinagar and Sopore Intermediate College.
Geelani's political career spanned several decades and organizations. He was elected to the occupied Kashmir legislative assembly in 1972, 1977, and 1987. His affiliations included National Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
In 1993, Geelani founded the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), serving as its chairman three times between 1998 and 2006. In 2015, he was elected as the APHC's lifetime chairman.
From 2010 until his death, Geelani remained under house arrest by Indian authorities. His passport had been confiscated by the Indian government since 1981.
Geelani passed away on September 1, 2021, in Hyderpora, Srinagar. Following his death, the Indian government imposed a curfew in the valley and suspended internet and media services.
Throughout his life, Geelani advocated for Kashmir's accession to Pakistan and opposed India's control of the region. He authored 21 books, including "Rudad-e-Qafas" and "Nawa-e-Hurriyat," focusing on Kashmir's struggle for freedom and human rights violations.
In recognition of his efforts for the Kashmiri freedom movement, the Pakistani government awarded Geelani the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country's highest civilian honor.
