SRINAGAR: Intellectuals and politicians on Tuesday called for clemency for Mohammad Afzal, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case, on the grounds that he did not get a fair trial.

At a seminar "Judicial Murder of Afzal and Mockery of Democracy and Justice" organised by the Society for Protection of Detainees' and Prisoner' Rights, speakers argued that Afzal was not given a chance to defend himself and the whole process lacked transparency. They alleged that he was made a scapegoat to "satisfy the public of India."

"Communal state"

Educationist Agha Ashraf Ali said Afzal was convicted only because he was a Kashmiri Muslim. "The irony is that in India Aurangzeb is seen as a Muslim and Shivaji as a Hindu and not as Indians," he said. He said this blurred vision caused harm to India's basic democratic values. "Afzal deserved a fair trial which was not given to him," he said.

Zarif Ahmad Zarif, a poet, called Afzal "Shaheed e Insaf (Martyr of Justice)." Those known as freedom fighters in India were called terrorists by the British. Only time proves what is right and what is wrong. "New Delhi should substantiate the claims of democracy," he said.

Trade Union leader Sampat Prakash, who played a major role in the acquittal of S.A.R. Geelani, another accused in the Parliament attack case, said Kashmiris had suffered a lot. Kamaluddin Farooqui, a professor, put the blame on the separatist leaders. "If you were united these things would not have happened," he said, asking the separatists to unite. He said that like many Kashmiris, Afzal was being punished for being a Muslim.

Lawyers' problem

Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Qayoom said even Kashmiri lawyers were regarded as terrorists and not allowed to plead cases. He claimed that Afzal was forced to "confess" what he had not done.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik hailed the Indian intelligentsia for taking up Afzal's case. There is a ray of hope as we have seen how people like Arundhati Roy have supported our case for Afzal, he said. Sajjad Gani Lone of People's Conference said that what was legally right in Delhi was not necessarily politically right in Kashmir. "The onus lies on India to prove that they are sincere, honest and want the Kashmir peace process to continue," he said.

Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani found nothing new in India's policy towards Kashmir. "Afzal's case is another example of repression," he said. He criticised those supporting the dialogue process and said that it was a hoax.

Dukhtara-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi said that the death sentence to Afzal was nothing but a "highly communalised decision."

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