Geelani to hold public rally in Hazratbal on May 27: Spokesman

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Wednesday announced to hold a public rally at the Hazratbal shrine here on May 27 as part of the amalgam’s campaign against “illegal detention and ill-treatment of political prisoners across jails in Jammu and Kashmir.”In a statement issued, Geelani stressed that the rally would be “completely peaceful and disciplined.”He also appealed Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Red Cross and other international rights groups to take notice of what he termed the miserable condition of detainees and press the government of India for their release. “The issue is of grave concern and Hurriyat Conference cannot remain silent over it. New Delhi might have succeeded in enforcing the silence of graveyard in Kashmir by handing over the region to police and armed forces, but that doesn’t mean everything is alright. 1465 people, including over 50 Hurriyat leaders, are languishing in jails in and outside the state, for the crime of demanding freedom and respect for Kashmiris,” he said.Geelani alleged that officers with “communal bent of mind have turned jails in Jammu province  into Abu Gharibs and Gauntanamo Bays.”The Hurriyat leader also flayed the International Red Cross for “failing to come to the aid of these detainees.”He said the government, in order to justify the prolonged detention of political activists and leaders, was itself creating rumours of June unrest, and “the police and other government forces are playing dangerous role.”Geelani expressed concern over the failing health of Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, ‘General’ Moosa, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, Peer Saifullah, Masrat Alam Bhat, Asiya Andrabi, Shakeel Bakshi, Mushtaq ul Islam and other pro-freedom release and demanded their immediate release