syed ali shah geelani

Syed Ali Shah Geelani is a separatist Hurriyat leader from Jammu and Kashmir.


Geelani 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 was an MLA from the Sopore constituency of Jammu and Kashmir three times (1972,1977 and 1987).

Geelani has called for numerous general strikes or shutdowns, in response to the deaths of unnamed suspected militants, local militants and death of civilians in Kashmir.

Geelani's passport was seized in 1981 due to accusations of "anti-India" activities. With the exception of his Hajj pilgrimage in 2006, he has not been allowed to leave India.

On August 01, 2017 the National Investigation Agency (NIA) summoned Geelani’s both sons for questioning in relation to the investigations into terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir.

A week before this, the agency arrested Altaf Fantosh, Geelani's son-in-law. He was among the 7 persons arrested and accused of receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor protests by stone-throwers in Kashmir Valley, which left more than 100 people dead last year.