Kashmiris in Paris mark death anniversary of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani

Pakistanis and Kashmiris living in Paris gathered on Wednesday to mark the death anniversary of veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, honoring his decades long campaign for the rights of people in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Geelani died on September 1, 2021, while confined to his home in Hyderpora under house arrest. The commemorative gathering in Paris was organized by the International Kashmir Peace Forum France and drew a large turnout of community members and human rights activists, who came together to reflect on his lifelong political and ideological commitment to the Kashmir cause.

Speakers at the event praised Geelani for his steadfastness, personal sacrifices and dedication to the principle of self determination for the people of Indian administered Kashmir. Several noted that he continued to serve as a leading voice of resistance even as he faced years of political repression and severe restrictions on his movement and communication.

Attendees also credited Geelani with helping keep the Kashmir dispute visible on the international stage and relevant to younger generations of Kashmiris. They said his struggle and the sacrifices he made would continue to motivate those working toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict that reflects the wishes of the Kashmiri people themselves.

Zahid Hashmi, president of the organizing forum, said the anniversary offered an opportunity to remember Geelani’s contributions and to reaffirm solidarity with the people of the region. He called on the international community to stay engaged with the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and to support efforts toward a lasting and peaceful settlement.

Participants described Geelani’s life as one defined by political perseverance and an unwavering position on Kashmir’s future, and the event closed with prayers for his memory and for peace and justice in the region. Organizers said they remained committed to raising awareness of the Kashmir issue across Europe and drawing continued international attention to the political and human rights situation there.

Geelani was born in 1929 in the village of Zeri Manz in the Bandipora area and went on to become one of the most prominent figures in the Kashmiri political movement, maintaining a consistent position in favor of the region’s accession to Pakistan throughout his life. He was elected to the legislative assembly of Indian administered Kashmir in 1972, 1977 and 1987, and over the course of his career belonged to the National Conference, Jamaat e Islami and the Tehreek e Hurriyat.

In 1993 he helped establish the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and went on to serve as its chairman on three separate occasions between 1998 and 2006, before being named the organization’s lifetime chairman in 2015. Indian authorities confiscated his passport in 1981, and he spent the final eleven years of his life confined to his home under house arrest.

Following his death in Hyderpora, Srinagar, Indian authorities imposed a strict curfew across the region and suspended communications networks. Geelani was buried wrapped in the flag of Pakistan, and Pakistan’s National Assembly held a symbolic funeral prayer in his honor, with the national flag flown at half mast in recognition of his passing.

Over his lifetime, Geelani wrote 21 books, including Rudad e Qafas and Nawai Hurriyat, reflecting his political thought and personal experiences under detention. The Pakistani government later awarded him the Nishan e Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his role in the Kashmiri political movement. He remains a widely commemorated figure among Kashmiri communities abroad, with anniversary gatherings held annually in cities across Europe, North America and the Middle East to keep attention on the unresolved dispute over the region’s political future.