SAR Geelani Dies Of Cardiac Arrest: Who Was Delhi University Professor?

Syed Abdul Rahman (SAR) Geelani, former Delhi University professor died in New Delhi on Thursday following a cardiac arrest, his family said. "He passed away on Thursday evening due to cardiac arrest," a family member confirmed.

Geelani, who used to teach Arabic at Delhi University's Zakir Hussain College, is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Who was SAR Geelani?

• SAR Geelani was arrested in connection with the Parliament attack case but was acquitted for "need of evidence" by the Delhi High Court in October 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005.
• Though the apex court had upheld the high court decision, it had remained "suspicious of his role".
• Geelani's counsel, noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani, had argued that the SC's "unfortunate observations, even while acquitting him for want of evidence, were seriously affecting both his career and social life" but the court had rejected his plea.
• He was also charged with sedition in 2016, after he had organised an event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, days after a similar event at JNU had sparked controversy over alleged anti-national slogans that led to the arrest of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and two others.
• Three of the accused including Geelani were handed the death penalty while, Navjot Sandhu was acquitted of all charges except one under Section 123 of the Indian Penal Code (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) — she was then sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment for five years.
• However, Geelani’s conviction led to a “massive legal and civic campaign”, claimed Outlook in an oped. Geelani was tortured in police custody and was branded as guilty by the media. His wife and children were illegally detained.
• His wife was told, “Your husband is in jail We will kill you. We will kill the children. You better tell him to come clean.”
• Geelani has also been vocal about his support for an independent Kashmir. In various media interviews, he has come out openly and vehemently in support for Azaad Kashmir.
• “We talk about the freedom of expression, we hold seminars, and large debates, but where is it? The whole Kashmir is under curfew. The whole Kashmir is gagged, Kashmiris wherever they are, if they come out on the streets protesting and mourning, they are gagged. First goons and uncivilised elements in the society are facilitated to trash them, hit them, beat them, then police harasses them,” he said in an interview.