Sayeed Salahudeen
Encyclopedia
Syed Salahudeen or Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah, is the head of the Hizbul Mujahideen
, militant outfit in Kashmir
and head of an alliance of Kashmiri militant organizations, the Muttahida Jihad Council, that supports the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir
's accession to Pakistan
. Salahudeen also believes that the practical mechanism to solve Kashmir dispute is by "accepting the right to self-determination".
, but later on decided to become a civil servant. While studying Political Science at University of Kashmir
, he started to become influenced by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami
, and become a member of its branch in the Kashmir Valley.
At University, he got involved in persuading Muslim women to veil themselves and also took part in processions in support of Pakistan. After university, he decided not to join the civil service, as he regarded this as traitorous to the cause of Kashmir, but instead he became an Islamic preacher at a Madrasa.
He is married, with 5 sons. His oldest son, Shakeel Yousuf, works as a medical assistant at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, second son Javed Yousuf works in the Education Department as computer operator, while Shahid Yousuf is an agricultural technologist, who trained at the prestigious Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology. Shah's fourth son, Wahid Yusuf, studies in Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Government Medical College, after he was selected in open merit. Mueed Yusuf, the youngest of Shah's sons, is presently pursuing MCA.
's Amirakadal Constituency. He came second after Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah of the moderate separatist National Conference
won the seat, amidst allegations of rigging and bogus polling. Mohammed Yusaf Shah was arrested and put in jail for agitation against rigging by National Conference with the help of the Central Government.
After his release in 1989, he was allegedly threatened by the National Conference of dire consequences. This convinced him that armed struggle was the only solution to the Kashmiri problem. He then joined an armed militant organization Hizbul Mujahideen
founded by Muhammad Ahsan Dar alias "Master" with the help of Ashraf Dar, Sheikh Waheed, Maqbool Illahi, & Abdullah Bangro. Ahsan Dar who later parted from Hizbul Mujahideen was replaced by Muhammad Yousuf Shah who then adopted nom de guerre "Sayeed Salahudeen", named after Saladin
, the 12th century Muslim political and military leader, who fought in the Crusades
.
He crossed the Line of Control
many times to conduct operations in the Kashmir Valley against the Indian Army. Since 1993, he has been living in Pakistan
.
Hizbul Mujahideen
Hizbul Mujahideen , founded by Ahsan Dar in 1989, is a Kashmiri militant group active in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. Their headquarters are located in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It is believed the group al-Badr, derived from Hizbul Mujahideen...
, militant outfit in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
and head of an alliance of Kashmiri militant organizations, the Muttahida Jihad Council, that supports the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
's accession to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Salahudeen also believes that the practical mechanism to solve Kashmir dispute is by "accepting the right to self-determination".
Early life
Born as the last seventh child of middle class parents at Soibugh, Budgam, a village in the Kashmir Valley. His father worked in the Postal Department in the government. Mohammed Yusaf Shah initially became interested in studying medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, but later on decided to become a civil servant. While studying Political Science at University of Kashmir
University of Kashmir
-Faculties/Departments:* Arts** Department of Arabic** Department of Urdu** Department of English** Department of Kashmiri** Department of Foreign Languages** Department of Library and Information Science** Department of Linguistics...
, he started to become influenced by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami
This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
, and become a member of its branch in the Kashmir Valley.
At University, he got involved in persuading Muslim women to veil themselves and also took part in processions in support of Pakistan. After university, he decided not to join the civil service, as he regarded this as traitorous to the cause of Kashmir, but instead he became an Islamic preacher at a Madrasa.
He is married, with 5 sons. His oldest son, Shakeel Yousuf, works as a medical assistant at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, second son Javed Yousuf works in the Education Department as computer operator, while Shahid Yousuf is an agricultural technologist, who trained at the prestigious Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology. Shah's fourth son, Wahid Yusuf, studies in Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Government Medical College, after he was selected in open merit. Mueed Yusuf, the youngest of Shah's sons, is presently pursuing MCA.
Political life
In 1987, Mohammed Yusaf Shah decided to contest J&K assembly election on the ticket of the Muslim United Front, a coalition of extreme separatist political parties in SrinagarSrinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
's Amirakadal Constituency. He came second after Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah of the moderate separatist National Conference
National Conference
National Conference may refer to:In India:*Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, the largest political party in Jammu and Kashmir, India.*Manipur National Conference, a political party in the Indian state of Manipur that was formed in 2002....
won the seat, amidst allegations of rigging and bogus polling. Mohammed Yusaf Shah was arrested and put in jail for agitation against rigging by National Conference with the help of the Central Government.
After his release in 1989, he was allegedly threatened by the National Conference of dire consequences. This convinced him that armed struggle was the only solution to the Kashmiri problem. He then joined an armed militant organization Hizbul Mujahideen
Hizbul Mujahideen
Hizbul Mujahideen , founded by Ahsan Dar in 1989, is a Kashmiri militant group active in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. Their headquarters are located in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It is believed the group al-Badr, derived from Hizbul Mujahideen...
founded by Muhammad Ahsan Dar alias "Master" with the help of Ashraf Dar, Sheikh Waheed, Maqbool Illahi, & Abdullah Bangro. Ahsan Dar who later parted from Hizbul Mujahideen was replaced by Muhammad Yousuf Shah who then adopted nom de guerre "Sayeed Salahudeen", named after Saladin
Saladin
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb , better known in the Western world as Saladin, was an Arabized Kurdish Muslim, who became the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and founded the Ayyubid dynasty. He led Muslim and Arab opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant...
, the 12th century Muslim political and military leader, who fought in the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
.
He crossed the Line of Control
Line of Control
The term Line of Control refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which, to this day, does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary but is the de facto border...
many times to conduct operations in the Kashmir Valley against the Indian Army. Since 1993, he has been living in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.