A hard-line Kashmiri separatist leader Saturday denied India's leading Muslim student organization was linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist organization.
The Indian government banned the Student's Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) on Thursday and have arrested many of its activists, saying they had links with bin Laden, the prime suspect behind the September 11 terror attacks on the United States.
But Syed Ali Geelani, a senior leader of Kashmir's main separatist alliance, the All Party Hurriyat Conference said: "SIMI has no links at all with the al-Qaeda group.
"The charges against SIMI are baseless and motivated. I can tell you this with authority as I have very close relation with SIMI," said Geelani, who said he had attended many SIMI functions.
"SIMI is working for the character building of Muslim youths, and not indulging in any underground or terrorist activities."
Violent protests erupted in the northern Indian city of Lucknow after New Delhi banned the group, leading to four deaths.
"Islam is strictly against terrorism and SIMI has been following the principles of Islam all along," said Geelani, who is known for his hard-line pan-Islamic stand on Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both.
"Banning SIMI amounts to banning Islam. Islam is a complete way of life. It is a principle and when you don't allow Muslims to preach Islamic teachings within their own community, it amounts to attacking Islam. SIMI has been banned because it preaches Islam."
Geelani appealed to Indians to register their protest against the decision.
"I appeal all the freedom-loving people of India to condemn the ban on SIMI and register strong protest against the act.
"It is the duty of both peace-loving Hindus and Muslims to come out openly against the Indian government's move."
Geelani said New Delhi was "misusing" the present political crisis to target Muslims in India.
"The government thinks the entire world is busy in tackling the problem of global terrorism and hence no one will take [note] of what it does within India."
The separatist leader said there was a need to ban radical Hindu organizations, which preach hatred and discrimination against the minority Muslims, Christians and Sikhs in India -- SRINAGAR, India (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
