The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), one of the principal organs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) took to Twitter on Thursday to condemn Indian government’s denial of right to choose burial rites and site of the veteran separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The organization tweeted, “OIC-IPHRC strongly condemns action of Indian Govt to deny right to choose burial rites and site for Syed Ali Shah Geelani, an iconic Kashmiri leader, who over 7 decades peacefully supported human rights & freedoms of Kashmiri Muslims incl their Rt to SD as enshrined UNSC Res.”
Also known as Bab, the veteran Kashmiri separatist leader passed away at 10:30 p.m., on Wednesday. He was 92. The news of his death spread like wildfires across the valley and immediately, the IGP Kashmir ordered for a communication blockade and curfew like restrictions.
Late Thursday morning, between 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., the family allegedly was forced to bury the deceased’s body at a nearby cemetery and not the graveyard he desired to be buried at, i.e., Srinagar’s Idgah Mazaar-e-Shohada (martyrs’ cemetery). The family also alleged that the police pushed them and engaged in scuffle with the women family members.
The organization further, condemned the Indian government’s action of imposing communication blockade by snapping internet “by snapping internet, imposition of curfew/restrictive lockdown limiting freedom of movement and assembly of Kashmiris to deny them to peacefully mourn and bid farewell to their beloved leader.”