Geelani says jailed leaders ‘prisoners of conscience’

Srinagar: Stating that incarnated pro-freedom leaders and activists were not criminals but “prisoners of conscience,” Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Tuesday demanded their unconditional and immediate release.“The issue is political as well as humanitarian.  Kashmiri political activists and leaders incarnated in jails are prisoners of conscience and not criminals. Detaining these respected and responsible citizens merely on the basis of their political ideology is a grave human rights violation,” Geelani said in a statement issued here to.“Even though New Delhi has to take the decision regarding their release but the state government has stooped to such levels of indifference that it is not even willing to consider this issue,” Geelani said and appealed Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other international rights groups to use their influence for securing the release of political activists, leaders and youth.Earlier, Geelani visited the Saida Kadal residence of incarnated Hurriyat leader ‘General’ Moosa and enquired about the health of Moosa’s ailing mother. Geelani said Moosa had suffered several personal setbacks while he was “illegally detained for the most part of the last 20 years.” “When his father Moulana Sidiq was martyred, General Moosa was in jail and now when his ailing mother is lying on the death bed the authorities are showing no signs of releasing him,” Geelani said, adding that Moosa had no criminal charges against him and the authorities had detained him under “black laws.”“Similarly Hurriyat Conference (G) general secretary, Ghulam Nabi Sumji is being detained despite court orders to release him. His daughter is suffering from cancer and even his own health is failing,” Geelani said.He also referred to Manzoor Ahmad; a youth from Srinagar, whose father and wife had passed away while he remains incarnated for the past one and a half years. Geelani said the government had adopted a “stone-hearted and cruel” approach on the issue of political prisoners’ release.