Do not wave flag of anti-Islamic IS: Geelani tells Kashmiri youth

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani asked Kashmiri youth on Tuesday to not wave Islamic State flags, condemning the militant outfit as “anti-Islamic” and a “group of murderers”.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani asked Kashmiri youth on Tuesday to not wave Islamic State flags, condemning the militant outfit as “anti-Islamic” and a “group of murderers”.

File photo of Kashmiri protesters displaying the flags of IS and Pakistan flag during a protest against the alleged desecration of Jamia Masjid by police in Srinagar, Jammu-Kashmir. (Waseem Andrabi/ Hindustan Times)

Geelani also criticised outfits such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan that is responsible for the 2014 Peshawar school massacre that killed 132 schoolchildren, saying it and the IS -- also known as Daesh – did not represent Islam.

“Those fighting for Daesh are actually murderers who are spilling innocent blood and are not in any way representing Islam,” Geelani said.

Geelani asked the youth to not be swayed by the organisation’s propaganda. “I am saddened to know that our youth unfurl and raise IS flags on some occasions. IS is a group of murderers, our people should know it,” he added.

This is the second time Geelani has called the IS “anti-Islam”. His comments come after several instances of Kashmiri youth unfurling the IS flag were reported from the troubled state this year, including in the state capital of Srinagar. In some instances, local youth waved the flags after the Friday prayers and clashed with the police.

The hardline separatist was speaking at a seminar organised at his residence to mark the anniversary of the UN resolution on Kashmir.

“No one can justify the attack on Pakistan’s army public school on December 14, 2014. These acts can only be undertaken by people who don’t know Islam,’’ he said.

Calling for safeguarding minorities, Geelani asked Pakistan to ensure peace in Karachi and Balochistan. “It is my message to Pakistan to ensure that all its minorities are given foolproof security,” he said. It was tragic that over 400 bodies were recovered in Balochistan in 2015 alone, he added.

“We are not against your parleys with India; we want good future for 121 crore Indians,” he said.