Dallas: During the 61st Annual Convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Canadian-Kashmiri scholar Dr. Farhan Chak portrayed the late Syed Ali Gilani not as a separatist but as a legitimate advocate for Kashmir’s self-determination. The event, attended by various scholars and leaders, emphasized Gilani’s unyielding stance against Indian military presence and his significant impact on the Kashmiri freedom movement.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Chak discussed the severe conditions in Kashmir, exacerbated by the heavy military and paramilitary presence. He highlighted Gilani’s courage in openly criticizing Indian atrocities in New Delhi, despite facing numerous death threats. Gilani’s steadfastness made him a central figure in the Kashmiri resistance, consistently opposing Indian dominance over Jammu and Kashmir without harboring personal resentment against his adversaries.

Other speakers at the convention included Imam Nur Abdullah, Sardar Israr Ayub, and the event’s moderator, Professor Faizan Haq of Buffalo State University, New York. Dr. Ghulam Nabi Mir, President of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, and Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, General Secretary of the same forum, also spoke highly of Gilani’s leadership and integrity. They described him as a larger-than-life figure who was deeply revered in the Kashmiri community and remained unyielded by Indian political pressures.

Dr. Fai also remembered Gilani on the third anniversary of his death, noting his prophetic warnings about India’s plans to alter Kashmir’s demographics, which manifested in the enactment of the Domicile Law in 2020. This law led to the issuance of over 4.3 million domicile certificates to non-Kashmiri Indian citizens, a move seen as an attempt to dilute the native demographic.

Additionally, Dr. Imtiaz Khan marked the anniversary with reflections on Gilani’s enduring legacy in the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. He recounted how Gilani’s death was handled by the Indian authorities, who denied his family the right to perform religious rites and placed the region under strict curfew, further symbolizing the oppressive conditions faced by the Kashmiris.

Nazeer Ahmed Qureshi, founder of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement, also issued a statement condemning the prolonged house arrest and the manner of Gilani’s burial, which he described as a blot on Indian democracy.

The speakers collectively painted a portrait of Gilani as an unwavering pillar of resistance and a beacon of hope for people advocating for Kashmir’s right to self-determination.