Offer absentia funeral prayers for ‘martyr’ Osama: Geelani

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Thursday appealed Kashmiris to offer funeral prayers in absentia for slain Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden after Friday prayers tomorrow.
According to a statement issued by the amalgam to PBI, Geelani said, “Muslims across the globe are like brothers to each other and are bound to pray for the Maghfirat (remission) of a deceased Muslim.”
He appealed Islamic scholars and clerics in Kashmir “to organize Gayibana Nimaz-e-Jinaza (funeral prayers in absentia) for martyr Osama Bin Laden after Friday prayers tomorrow”.
“It’s a religious obligation, fulfilling which is fard- kifaya (collective duty),” he said
Geelani also appealed people to offer collective prayers for “the liberation of Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan and other occupied Muslim nations under foreign occupation.”
“Osama’s heart felt the pain of Muslims and he gave up a life of wealth and prosperity for oppressed and subjugated Muslims. Therefore, its incumbent upon us to fulfill the responsibility which has fallen on our shoulders after his (Osama’s) martyrdom,” Geelani said, in the statement issued to Press Bureau of India.
“Osama’s name doesn’t represent an individual; it represents an ideology against foreign occupation. Western powers need to understand that the miseries and sufferings inflicted upon the people of Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan by foreign occupations are bound to spring up resistance in some form or shape,” Geelani said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of the amalgam said that Geelani was placed under house arrest this morning, “in violation of court orders.”
“ Despite the fact that a writ petition was filed in the High Court challenging the continuous house arrest of Geelani sahib, to which honourable court had sought response from the government within a week, Geelani sahib was placed under house arrest around 7 in the morning.”
The spokesman said Geelani was scheduled to address people at Batamaloo tomorrow and offer Osama’s absentia funeral prayers after Friday prayers in the area.
The spokesman alleged that the government was “scared” of Geelani’s popularity and “knows that it won’t be able to maintain the silence of graveyard enforced in Kashmir through arrests and other tactics if Geelani sahib is free.”