View source for Afzal Guru

{{Short description|Kashmiri Terrorist convicted in India}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name              = Afzal Guru
| caption           = Afzal Guru in 2013
| birth_name        = Mohammed Afzal Guru
| image             = Afzal_Guru.jpg
| image_size        = 200
| birth_date        = 30 June 1969
| birth_place       = [[Sopore]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]], India
| death_date        = 9 February 2013 (aged 43)
| death_place       = [[Tihar Jail]], [[Delhi]], India
| death_cause       = [[Capital punishment|Execution]] by [[hanging]]
| education         = [[Jhelum Valley (Kashmir)|Jhelum valley]] medical college
| known_for         = Role, conviction and execution in the [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]
| allegiance        = [[Jaish-e-Mohammad]]
| motive            = Islamist [[separatism]]
| apprehended       = 21 December 2001
| charge            = [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]
| conviction        = Murder<br />Conspiracy<br />Waging war against India<br />Possession of explosives
| penalty           = [[Capital punishment|Death]]
| conviction_status = [[Executed]]
| spouse            = Tabasum<ref name=lastletter />
| parents           = 
| children          = 
}}

'''Mohammed Afzal Guru''' (30 June 1969 &ndash; 9 February 2013) was convicted for his role in the [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]. He received a death sentence for his involvement, which was upheld by the [[Indian Supreme Court]]. Following the rejection of a mercy petition by the [[President of India]], he was executed on 9 February 2013. His body was buried within the precincts of Delhi's [[Tihar Jail]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-12-03 |title=Afzal Guru: A chronology of events |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afzal-guru-a-chronology-of-events/article4396402.ece |access-date=2023-03-02 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was a member of [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]].<ref name="Jaffrelot">{{Cite book |last=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i5GMCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA520 |title=The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-023518-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="THindu">{{Cite news |date=2013-02-09 |title=Afzal Guru: A chronology of events |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afzal-guru-a-chronology-of-events/article4396402.ece |access-date=2023-03-02 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Early life==
Afzal was born in [[Doabgah]] village near [[Sopore]] town in the [[Baramulla district]] of the [[Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir|Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir]] in June 1969.<ref name=OneIndia_who>[https://www.oneindia.com/2013/02/09/who-is-afzal-guru-1146580.html Who is Afzal Guru – One India News]. Retrieved 9 February 2013</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">State v. Mohammad Afzal and Ors., Judgment of High Court of Delhi in Murder Reference No. 1/2003 and Crl. A. No. 43/2003 by J. Usha Mehra and J. Pradeep Nandrajog 9 October 29, 20030</ref> His father, Habibullah, ran a timber and transport business, and died when Afzal was a child. Afzal completed his schooling from Government School, Sopore and passed the matriculation exam in 1986. He subsequently enrolled in the [[Jhelum Valley (Kashmir)|Jhelum valley]] medical college. He had completed the first year of his [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MBBS course]] and was preparing for competitive exams when he began to participate in other activities.<ref name=OneIndia_who /><ref name="DNA" />

==Training==
In Sopore, he ran a commission agency in fruits.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guru: A commission agent in fruits business|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/310989/guru-commission-agent-fruits-business.html|access-date=24 March 2016|work=Deccan Herald|date=9 February 2013}}</ref> In the summer of 1993–94, on the advice of his family, he surrendered to the [[Border Security Force]] and returned to Delhi where he worked till 1996.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="DNA">{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru hanged, buried in Tihar|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_afzal-guru-hanged-in-tihar-jail-at-8am_1797997|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=DNA|date=9 February 2013}}</ref> He took up a job with a pharmaceuticals firm and served as its area manager. Simultaneously, he worked as a commission agent for medical and surgical goods in the year 1996. During this period, he used to shuttle between [[Srinagar]] and [[Delhi]]. On a visit to Kashmir in 1998, he married a [[Baramulla]] native, Tabasum.<ref name="OneIndia_who" />

== The attack==
{{main|2001 Indian Parliament attack}}
The 13 December 2001 attack was conducted by the [[Jaish-e-Mohammad]] (JeM). Gunmen sneaked into the Parliament in a car with Home Ministry and Parliament labels. They drove into the then Vice President [[Krishna Kant]]'s car parked in the premises and began firing. The ministers and MPs escaped unhurt. The attack was foiled due to the immediate reaction of the security personnel present at the spot and complex. There was a fierce gun-battle lasting for nearly 30 minutes. Nine persons including eight security personnel and one gardener lost their lives in the attack and 16 persons including 13 security personnel, received injuries. The five assailants were killed.<ref name=LATimes>{{cite news|first=Mark |last=Magnier|title=India executes Afzul Guru for 2001 parliament attack |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2015-01-17 |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2013-feb-09-la-fg-wn-india-hanging-20130209-story.html}}</ref><ref name=DNA-Timeline /> 

At the end of December, then [[United States|US]] President [[George W. Bush]] made a telephone call to then [[Pakistan]] President [[Pervez Musharraf]] and then Indian Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] to defuse tension between the two countries and urge them to move away from escalating the Parliament attack into war.<ref name=story>{{cite news|last1=Keerthana|first1=R|title=The Afzal Guru story|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/the-afzal-guru-story/article4416525.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=11 September 2014|date=15 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Philip Delves |last1=Broughton |first2=Rahul |last2=Bedi |title=Bush urges India and Pakistan to avert war |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (UK) |date=31 December 2001}}</ref><ref name=judgment-sc />

==The trial==
===Investigation and arrest===
On 15 December 2001, the special cell of [[Delhi Police]], with the help of leads relating to the car used and cellphone records, arrested Guru from Srinagar, his cousin Shaukat Husain Guru, Shaukat's wife Afsan Guru (Navjot Sandhu before marriage) and S.A.R Geelani, a lecturer of Arabic at [[Delhi University]] were also arrested by the police.<ref name=del-hc>{{cite news|title=Delhi High Court – State vs Mohd. Afzal And Ors|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1031426/|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=Indian Kanoon}}</ref><ref name=IE-legal>{{cite news|last1=Anand|first1=Utkarsh|title=The legal journey of Afzal Guru|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/the-legal-journey-of-afzal-guru/1072029/|access-date=11 September 2014|work=Indian Express|date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

On 13 December an FIR was lodged by the police and after subsequent arrests, all the accused were tried under charges of waging war, conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder etc. with the provisions of the [[Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002]] (POTA) being added to the original charges after six days. On 29 December 2001, Guru was sent to 10-day police remand.<ref name=DNA-Timeline /> The court appointed Seema Gulati as his lawyer, who dropped Guru's case after 45 days because of her case load.<ref name=lawyer>{{cite news|first=Arundhati |last=Roy |title=Clemency-seekers weakened Afzal's defence |date=19 October 2006 |access-date=2013-05-29 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2214714.cms |work=The Times of India}}</ref> In June 2002, charges were filed against all four of them.<ref name=DNA-Timeline>{{cite news|title=Afzal hanging: From arrest till the noose|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_afzal-hanging-from-arrest-till-the-noose_1798006|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=DNA|date=9 February 2013|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> 80 witnesses were examined for the prosecution and 10 witnesses were examined on behalf of the accused.<ref name=judgment-sc>{{cite web|title=State (N.C.T. Of Delhi) vs Navjot Sandhu@ Afsan Guru|url=http://www.judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=27092|publisher=Supreme Court of India|access-date=20 September 2014|date=4 August 2005|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020205143/http://www.judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=27092|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Charges===
Guru was charged under several sections of POTA and the [[Indian Penal Code]] including waging of war against the Government of India and conspiracy to commit the same; murder and criminal conspiracy; conspiring and knowingly facilitating the commission of a terrorist act or acts preparatory to a terrorist act, and also voluntarily harbouring and concealing the now-deceased terrorists, knowing that such persons were terrorists and were members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, and possession of {{INR}} 10 [[Lakh]]s given to him by the terrorists who were killed by the police when they attacked the Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 14, 2020 |last=Choudhury |first=Sunetra |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/davinder-link-wouldn-t-have-affected-verdict-says-judge-in-afzal-guru-trial/story-n6Phh1eT6Cfa838FY6m7VO.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114012716/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/davinder-link-wouldn-t-have-affected-verdict-says-judge-in-afzal-guru-trial/story-n6Phh1eT6Cfa838FY6m7VO.html |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |title=Davinder link wouldn't have affected verdict, says judge in Afzal Guru trial |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en-IN }}</ref> Police filed a charge-sheet in the case on 15 May 2002. The trial started after charges were laid against the four accused on 4 June 2002.<ref name=indlaw-review />

===Confession===
After his arrest, Guru made a confessional statement which bore his signature, recorded by the DCP, special cell. It was recorded in the preamble of the confession that DCP had asked policemen present there to leave the room.<ref name=judgment-sc /><ref name=Outlook4of7>{{cite news|title=The Case of Mohd. Afzal|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/articlefullwidth.aspx?228136|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=Outlook|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101903/http://www.outlookindia.com/articlefullwidth.aspx?228136|archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref> The Supreme Court was angered by the act of police officials, who, in their over-zealousness, had arranged for a media interview.<ref name=Outlook4of7 /> However, after seven months, Guru disowned this confession and the Supreme Court did not accept the earlier confession as evidence against him.<ref name=Outlook4of7 />

Sushil Kumar, Guru's advocate later claimed that Guru had written a letter to him where Guru said that he had made the confessions under duress as his family was being threatened.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?225472 |title = I Hope My Forced Silence Will Be Heard |work= [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |access-date= 15 February 2012}}</ref> Journalist [[Vinod Jose|Vinod K. Jose]] claimed that in an interview in 2006, Guru had said that he had been subjected to extreme torture which included electric shocks in private parts and being beaten up for hours along with threats regarding his family after his arrest.<ref name=vinod_interview>{{cite web|last=Jose|first=Vinod K|title=Mulakat Afzal|url=http://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/mulakat-afzal|publisher=Caravan Magazine|access-date=3 May 2013}}</ref> Between the time of his arrest and the time when initial charges were filed, Guru was told that his brother was held in detention.<ref name=vinod_interview /> At the time of his confession, he had no legal representation.<ref name=lawyer /><ref name=vinod_interview />

===Conviction===
On 22 December 2001, the case was brought before a special POTA Court under sessions judge S N Dhingra and the trial started on 8 July 2002, and was conducted on a day-to-day basis. Eighty witnesses were examined for the prosecution and ten were examined for defence. Trial was concluded in nearly six months.<ref name=judgment-sc /> One year later, on 18 December 2002, the special court awarded capital punishment to Guru, Shaukat and Geelani. Shaukat's wife Afsan was found guilty of concealing the plot and sentenced to five years in jail. The POTA court justified capital punishment, saying the attack on Parliament was the handiwork of forces which wanted to "destroy the country and cripple it by killing or capturing its entire political executive, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.. captivate entire legislature and the Vice-President, who were in Parliament." He was also sentenced to life imprisonment on as many as eight counts under the provisions of IPC, POTA and Explosive Substances Act in addition to varying amounts of fine.<ref name=DNA-Timeline /><ref name=judgment-sc /><ref name=IE-legal /> In August 2003, [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] leader Ghazi Baba, who was a prime accused in the attack was killed in an encounter with the Border Security Force (BSF) in Srinagar. In October 2003, on an appeal, Delhi High Court upheld the order.<ref name=Gazibaba>{{cite news|last1=Sinha|first1=Ashish|title=How intelligence got it right on Ghazi Baba|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/How-intelligence-got-it-right-on-Ghazi-Baba/articleshow/2321304.cms|access-date=20 September 2014|work=Times of India|agency=TNN|date=30 August 2007}}</ref>

===Delhi High Court===
An appeal was made to the Delhi High Court, but after going through the case and taking into consideration various authorities and precedents, the Court found that the conviction of Guru was correct and hence his appeal was dismissed. Guru was represented by [[senior counsel]] [[Shanti Bhushan]] and [[Colin Gonsalves]].{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} The co-accused in the case, SAR Geelani and Afsan Guru (wife of Shaukat Husain), were acquitted by the High Court 29 October 2003.<ref name=DNA-Timeline /><ref>{{cite news|author =PTI news agency |title=Indian Supreme Court stays execution of parliament attack convict |work=BBC Monitoring International Reports |publisher=Asia Africa Intelligence Wire |date=20 February 2004 |access-date=2013-05-29 |type=Subscription |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20416769_ITM}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-2001-parliament-attack-619622.html |title=All you need to know about the 2001 Parliament attack |date=9 February 2013 |publisher=Firstpost |access-date=2014-07-21}}</ref><ref name=Guardian2006>{{cite news|first=Arundhati |last=Roy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/dec/15/india.kashmir |title=India's shame |publisher=Guardian (UK) |date=15 December 2006 |access-date=2013-05-26 |location=London}}</ref>

===Supreme Court of India===
On 4 August 2005, the Supreme Court, upheld the death sentence for Afzal Guru while it commuted Shaukat Hussain Guru's sentence from death to 10 years imprisonment.<ref name=DNA-Timeline /><ref name="Outlook-Case-6/7" /> Of the three sentenced to death, SAR Geelani (who was presented as the mastermind behind the attack), Shaukat Hussain Guru and Afzal Guru, only Afzal Guru's penalty was upheld by the Supreme Court.<ref name=del-hc /><ref name=Guardian2006 /> Guru filed a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking review of its judgement. However, on 22 September 2005, the review petition too came to be dismissed by the Supreme Court.<ref name=indlaw-review>{{cite news|title=SC Refuses To Review Judgement in Parliament Attack Case|url=https://scjudgments.com/guest/DisplayNews.aspx?C82385FC-0824-4422-B55E-F97FB93148B8|access-date=20 September 2014|work=Indlaw|date=22 September 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140920233756/https://scjudgments.com/guest/DisplayNews.aspx?C82385FC-0824-4422-B55E-F97FB93148B8|archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref>

In its judgement, the Supreme Court observed:
{{Quote box
|quote  = "As criminal acts took place pursuant to the conspiracy, the appellant, as a party to the conspiracy, shall be deemed to have abetted the offence. In fact, he took active part in a series of steps taken to pursue the objective of conspiracy."
 |source =Supreme Court of India, Judgement on Appeal by Guru on 5 August 2005.<ref name=Outlook4of7 /><ref name="Outlook-Case-6/7" /> |width  = 50%
 |align  = center
}}

The Supreme Court observed that mostly, the conspiracies are proved by the circumstantial evidence.<ref name=ibn_judgment>{{cite web|title=Full text: Supreme Court judgement on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/full-text-supreme-court-judgement-on-parliament-attack-convict-afzal-guru/371782-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212024108/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/full-text-supreme-court-judgement-on-parliament-attack-convict-afzal-guru/371782-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2013|publisher=Supreme Court of India|access-date=3 May 2013}}</ref> It held that the circumstances detailed in the judgment clearly established that Guru was associated with the deceased militants in almost every act done by them in order to achieve the objective of attacking the Parliament House. It also observed that there was sufficient and satisfactory circumstantial evidence to establish that Guru was a partner in this conspired crime of enormous gravity. In its judgement of 5 August 2005, the supreme court admitted that the evidence against Guru was only circumstantial, and that there was no evidence that he belonged to any terrorist group or organisation. He was subsequently meted out three life sentences and a double death sentence.<ref name=judgment-sc />

In October 2006, Guru's wife, Tabasum, filed a mercy petition with then President of India [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]. In June 2007, Supreme Court dismissed Guru's plea seeking review of his death sentence, saying "there is no merit" in it. In December 2010, Shaukat Hussain Guru was released from Delhi's Tihar Jail due to his good conduct.<ref name=DNA-Timeline />

== Clemency pleas ==
There was an appeal to issue [[clemency]] to Guru from various human rights groups including political groups in Kashmir,<ref>{{cite news|first=Mehboob |last=Khan |title=Kashmir uproar over Afzal Guru clemency plea |work=BBC News |date=29 September 2011 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15110537}}</ref> who believe that Guru did not receive a fair trial and was framed by corrupt police and the victim of inefficient police work.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Afzal Must not Hang|url=http://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv17n2/afsal.htm|work=Democracy Org|access-date=9 September 2011}}</ref> Human rights activists in various parts of India and the world have demanded reprieve as they believe that the trial was flawed. [[Arundhati Roy]] and [[Praful Bidwai]] castigated the trial and argued that Guru has been denied natural justice.<ref name=Roy>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/india/story/0,,1972788,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=India's shame | date=15 December 2006 | access-date=13 May 2010 | first=Arundhati | last=Roy}}</ref> Accusations of human rights violations have been made by many.<ref name=Amnesty>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/india-new-execution-points-worrying-and-regressive-trend-2013-02-09 INDIA: NEW EXECUTION POINTS TO WORRYING AND REGRESSIVE TREND], Amnesty International, 9 February 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Afzal-Gurus-secret-hanging-a-human-rights-violation-Prosecutor/articleshow/18474808.cms|title = Afzal Guru's secret hanging a human rights violation: Prosecutor &#124; India News - Times of India| website=[[The Times of India]] | date=13 February 2013 }}</ref>

Former Jammu and Kashmir [[Chief Minister]] [[Mufti Mohammed Sayeed]] and local political groups voiced their support of clemency for Guru. It was alleged many have done so to appease Muslim voters in India.<ref name="IT">(30 October 2006). No Mercy. ''India Today'', [5(43)], [14–15].</ref> 

[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] was critical of both the Congress as well as of the BJP, and claimed it was delaying the legal procedure in the case accusing it of trying to whip up enmity between communities in the name of a crime done by a group of criminals. The party wants the law of the land to take its course without any interference.<ref>[http://pd.cpim.org/2006/1217/12172006_edit.htm ''Playing With National Security''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330072258/http://pd.cpim.org/2006/1217/12172006_edit.htm |date=30 March 2012 }} [[People's Democracy (journal)|People's Democracy]]</ref>

[[Ram Jethmalani]] held that it is completely within the president's power to commute the death sentence and is not a mercy plea. He said, "It’s a misnomer to call it a mercy petition. It leads to total misunderstanding of the constitutional power. The constitutional power is that the president has the power to disagree with the Supreme Court both with its findings of fact and law."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main21.asp?filename=Ne102806Afzal_was_CS.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201043308/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main21.asp?filename=Ne102806Afzal_was_CS.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2006 |title=The People's Paper |work=Tehelka |date=28 October 2006 |access-date=2013-02-09 }}</ref>
The case became political and it was not carried out because of fear of revenge attacks.
The [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party]] president and MP, Mehbooba Mufti commented that the centre should pardon Afzal if Pakistan accepted the clemency appeal for [[Sarabjit Singh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/08/31/stories/2005083112671600.htm |title=Pardon Afzal: Mehbooba |work=The Hindu |date=31 August 2005 |access-date=2013-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219002054/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/08/31/stories/2005083112671600.htm |archive-date=19 December 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

However, the [[All-India Anti-Terrorist Front]] Chairman [[Maninderjeet Singh Bitta]] urged the President of India not to accept any clemency pleas on Afzal's behalf. He warned that his organisation would launch agitations if Afzal was pardoned. He also criticised statements of various political leaders and blamed them for "encouraging activities of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/366888.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Bitta urges President not to pardon Afzal | date=8 November 2006}}</ref>

An ''[[India Today]]'' poll in October 2006 showed that 78% of Indians supported the death penalty for Afzal.<ref name="IT" />

On 12 November 2006, the former Deputy Prime Minister of India, [[Lal Krishna Advani]] criticised the delay in carrying out the death sentence on Guru for the Parliament terror attack, saying, "I fail to understand the delay. They have increased my security. But what needs to be done immediately is to carry out the court's orders".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-11-12 |title=Advani against delay in Afzal's execution |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/advani-against-delay-in-afzals-execution/articleshow/418719.cms |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>



The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) severely criticised Arundhati Roy. BJP spokesperson [[Prakash Javadekar]] said:<blockquote>"Those who are supporting Afzal by demanding that he should not be hanged are not only acting against public sentiment in the country but are giving a fillip to terrorist morale"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1830995,0008.htm|title=BJP flays Arundhati Roy for 'defending' Afzal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123205046/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1830995%2C0008.htm|archive-date=23 November 2006|url-status=dead|work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref></blockquote>

On 23 June 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended the president's office to reject the mercy petition. On 7 January 2011, a whistle-blowing site indianleaks.in leaked a document which stated that the mercy petition file was not with President of India. This was rubbished by Kapil Sibal in an interview with NDTV.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://indianleaks.in/leaks/afzal-guru-mercy-petition-file-in-not-with-president-of-india/ | work=Indian Leaks | title=Afzal Guru Mercy petition file is not with President of India! | date=7 January 2010 | access-date=10 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113080414/http://indianleaks.in/leaks/afzal-guru-mercy-petition-file-in-not-with-president-of-india/ | archive-date=13 January 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
This was confirmed by Home Minister [[P. Chidambaram]] in New Delhi on 23 February 2011. With the death penalty handed to [[Ajmal Kasab]], the speculation was that Guru was next in line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/140350/afzal-gurus-mercy-petition-not.html|work=Deccan Herald | title=Afzal Guru's mercy petition not yet sent to president: Chidambaram. | date=23 February 2011}}</ref>

On 10 August 2011, the home ministry of India rejected the mercy petition, and sent a letter to the President of India recommending the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/home-ministry-rejects-afzal-gurus-mercy-plea/174655-3.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717000550/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/home-ministry-rejects-afzal-gurus-mercy-plea/174655-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2012|work=CNN-IBN | title=Home Ministry rejects Afzal Guru's mercy petition. | date=10 August 2011}}</ref>

On 7 September 2011, a high intensity bomb blast outside Delhi high court killed 11 people and left 76 others injured.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/11-dead-76-injured-in-terror-strike/Article1-742586.aspx |title=11 dead, 76 injured in terror strike |date=7 September 2011 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=22 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104145704/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/11-dead-76-injured-in-terror-strike/Article1-742586.aspx |archive-date=4 November 2012}}</ref>

In an e-mail sent to a media house [[Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami]], an Islamic fundamentalist organisation, owned responsibility for the attack and claimed the blast was carried out in retaliation for Guru's death sentence:<blockquote>''"We own the responsibility for today's blasts at Delhi high court. Our demand is that Mohammed Afzal Guru's death sentence should be repealed immediately else we would target major high courts and the Supreme Court of India."''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-07/india/30122504_1_huji-harkat-ul-jihad-delhi-high-court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106104413/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-07/india/30122504_1_huji-harkat-ul-jihad-delhi-high-court |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2012 |title=HuJI claims responsibility for Delhi high court blast |date=7 September 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref></blockquote>

Later, however, in a letter{{which|date=May 2013|news = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/don-t-link-me-with-blast-afzal-guru/844786/}} Guru declared the attack on Delhi High Court that killed 11 Indians against the principles of Islam and refuted all allegations with the attack.<ref>{{cite news|date=9 February 2013|url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/don-t-link-me-with-blast-afzal-guru/844786 |title=Don't link me with blast: Afzal Guru|work=The Indian Express|access-date=July 11, 2020}}</ref>

==Execution==
On 16 November 2012, [[Pranab Mukherjee]], then [[President of India]] had sent seven cases back to the [[Ministry of Home Affairs]] (MHA), including Afzal Guru's. The president requested [[Sushil Kumar Shinde]], home minister, review the opinion of his predecessor, [[P. Chidambaram]]. On 10 December, Shinde indicated he would look at the file after the winter session of the Parliament was finished on 20 December.<ref name=DNA-Timeline /><ref>{{cite news|first=Aman |last=Sharma |title=Sushil Kumar Shinde to look into Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru's file after winter session |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sushil-kumar-shinde-to-look-into-parliament-attack-accused-afzal-gurus-file-after-winter-session/articleshow/17565779.cms |work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shinde to look Afzal Guru's mercy plea after Winter Session |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Shinde-to-look-Afzal-Guru-s-mercy-plea-after-Winter-Session/Article1-970928.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212065856/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Shinde-to-look-Afzal-Guru-s-mercy-plea-after-Winter-Session/Article1-970928.aspx |archive-date=12 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Decision on Afzal Guru's mercy petition in fortnight? |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=13 December 2012 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Decision-on-Afzal-Guru-s-mercy-petition-in-fortnight/Article1-972054.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115123807/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Decision-on-Afzal-Guru-s-mercy-petition-in-fortnight/Article1-972054.aspx |archive-date=15 January 2013}}</ref> Shinde made his final recommendation to execute Guru on 23 January 2013.<ref name="NDTV_rejected_2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/afzal-guru-s-mercy-petition-rejected-execution-soon-sources-328499?pfrom=home-lateststories |title=Afzal Guru, Parliament attack convict, hanged in Delhi's Tihar Jail |publisher=NDTV.com |date=20 October 2006 |access-date=2013-02-09}}</ref> On 3 February 2013, Guru's mercy petition was rejected by the President of India.<ref name=DNA-Timeline /><ref name="NDTV_rejected_2006"/>

Afzal Guru was hanged six days later on 9 February 2013 at 8 am.<ref name=tdnpost>{{cite web| url=http://tdnpost.com/news/parliament-attack-plotter-afzal-guru-hanged-203936.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411224140/http://tdnpost.com/news/parliament-attack-plotter-afzal-guru-hanged-203936.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 April 2013| date=9 February 2013| title=Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru has been hanged| publisher=TDNPost}}</ref> Jail officials have said that when Guru was told about his execution, he was calm. He expressed his wish to write to his wife. The jail superintendent gave him a pen and paper. He wrote the letter in Urdu, which was posted to his family in Kashmir the same day. Very few officers were told about the decision. Three doctors and a [[maulvi]], who performed his [[Islamic funeral|last rites]], were informed secretly a night before. They were asked to come early Saturday morning. Guru performed his morning prayers and read a few pages of the [[Quran]]. Guru's letter was delivered to his family on 12 February 2013.<ref name=ibn7-1>{{cite news|title=In last letter to wife, Afzal Guru named hanging code Operation Three Star|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/in-last-letter-to-wife-afzal-guru-named-hanging-code-operation-three-star/372254-3-244.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212204115/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/in-last-letter-to-wife-afzal-guru-named-hanging-code-operation-three-star/372254-3-244.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2013|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=IBN 7|date=12 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru's last letter delivered to family|url=http://www.newswala.com/India-National-News/Afzal-Gurus-last-letter-delivered-to-family-29833.html|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=NewsWala|date=15 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227031516/http://www.newswala.com/India-National-News/Afzal-Gurus-last-letter-delivered-to-family-29833.html|archive-date=27 February 2013}}</ref>  [[Kobad Ghandy|Kobad Ghandhy]], who spent three years with Afzal in Tihar, wrote that Afzal asked jail authorities to treat the jail staff well and that the staff wept for Afzal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-10|title=Afzal had deep dislike for Pakistan, ISI: Khobad Gandhy in letter to journalist|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/the-truth-about-afzal/story-mwuY2GXYJMqMfKanRjNSQI.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128091701/https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/the-truth-about-afzal/story-mwuY2GXYJMqMfKanRjNSQI.html|archive-date=2020-11-28|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Thapar|first=Karan|date=2021-03-14|title=Kobad Ghandy on Tihar: 'Jailers Wept for Afzal; Nirbhaya Rapist Vinay Sharma Was a Vile Sort'|url=https://thewire.in/rights/watch-kobad-ghandy-tihar-jail|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210325013151/https://thewire.in/rights/watch-kobad-ghandy-tihar-jail|archive-date=2021-03-25|access-date=2021-03-25|website=The Wire}}</ref> The execution of Mohammed Afzal Guru was named Operation Three Star.

Guru's family was informed of his execution two days after by a letter sent through [[Speedpost]], a fast courier service, to their home in Sopore.<ref name=TheHinduOnExecution>{{cite news|first1=Sandeep |last1=Joshi |first2=Ashok |last2=Kumar|title=Afzal Guru hanged in secrecy, buried in Tihar Jail |newspaper=The Hindu Times |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afzal-guru-hanged-in-secrecy-buried-in-tihar-jail/article4396289.ece |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Postal officials in Srinagar said they received the letter Saturday evening (9 February), but it could not be delivered until Monday (11 February) because Sunday was a public holiday.<ref>{{cite news|author=IANS |title=Two days after hanging, speed post reaches Afzal Guru's family |newspaper=Times of India |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=2014-09-21 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-days-after-hanging-speed-post-reaches-Afzal-Gurus-family/articleshow/18444932.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211141828/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-days-after-hanging-speed-post-reaches-Afzal-Gurus-family/articleshow/18444932.cms |archive-date=11 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Aftermath of execution==
The secret operation surrounding Guru's execution was codenamed '''Operation Three Star'''.<ref name=lastletter>{{cite news|first=Tarique |last=Anwar |title=Afzal Guru in last letter to family: 'Take care of my wife and son' |newspaper=Daily Bhaskar |date=16 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-28 |url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-afzal-guru-in-last-letter-to-family-take-care-of-my-wife-and-son-4181457-NOR.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311045415/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-afzal-guru-in-last-letter-to-family-take-care-of-my-wife-and-son-4181457-NOR.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 March 2013}}</ref> The prison took steps to execute Guru in secrecy.<ref name=TheHinduOnExecution /> The execution was carried out without the family's knowledge and without any form of public announcement.<ref name=indcurfew /><ref name=ibngeelani /><ref name=aninews_gimmick /> Guru's body was buried on prison grounds to prevent a public funeral.<ref name=TheHinduOnExecution />

On a national level, security was prepared beforehand for public protests.<ref name=TheHinduOnExecution /> After Guru' s execution, a curfew was then imposed by the authorities when the news became public in Kashmir to prevent any kind of protests in support of Guru.<ref name=curfew>{{cite news|first=M Saleem |last=Pandit |title=Afzal Guru hanged: Curfew imposed in Kashmir valley, NH closed to avert trouble |newspaper=Times of India |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Afzal-Guru-hanged-Curfew-imposed-in-Kashmir-valley-NH-closed-to-avert-trouble/articleshow/18413123.cms}}</ref> State-run media [[Doordarshan]] announced the execution on the morning of 9 February, and Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state, made a special appeal on television for public calm.<ref name=tdnpost /><ref name=YN_protests_erupt>{{cite news|first=Matthias |last=Williams |title=Protests erupt as Afzal Guru executed for 2001 parliament attack |publisher=Reuters |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/india-execution-afzal-guru-parliament-at-idINDEE91801C20130209|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221063119/http://in.reuters.com/article/india-execution-afzal-guru-parliament-at-idINDEE91801C20130209|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirnewz.com/p0119.html |title=Kashmir Newz Picture / 290906 |publisher=Kashmirnewz.com |date=2006-09-29 |access-date=2014-07-21}}</ref> Authorities also shut down cable TV and internet services to try to stop further news of the hanging and activists from organizing and spreading unrest.<ref name="toi-protest" />

Mosques throughout the region were used for public announcements and curfew information.<ref name=LATimes /> SAR Geelani, who was co-accused in the attacks on the Indian parliament and later acquitted by the Supreme Court,<ref name="Outlook-Case-6/7">{{cite news|title=The Case of SAR Gilani|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/articlefullwidth.aspx?228138|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=Outlook|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212052033/http://www.outlookindia.com/articlefullwidth.aspx?228138|archive-date=12 February 2013}}</ref> was taken into preventive custody by the Delhi Police.<ref name=ibngeelani>{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru hanging: SAR Geelani taken into preventive custody by Delhi Police |publisher=IBNLive |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/afzal-guru-hanging-sar-geelani-taken-into-preventive-custody-by-delhi-police/371854-3-244.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219204602/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/afzal-guru-hanging-sar-geelani-taken-into-preventive-custody-by-delhi-police/371854-3-244.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> Several leaders from the separatist movement were also detained.<ref name=indcurfew>{{cite news|first=Andrew |last=Buncombe |title=Curfew imposed after India hangs Kashmiri man for 2001 attack on Parliament |newspaper=The Independent (UK) |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/curfew-imposed-after-india-hangs-kashmiri-man-for-2001-attack-on-parliament-8488154.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227015050/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/curfew-imposed-after-india-hangs-kashmiri-man-for-2001-attack-on-parliament-8488154.html |archive-date=2013-02-27 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |location=London}}</ref> However, protests flared up in parts of the Valley—Guru's hometown of Sopore, Baramulla in North Kashmir and Pulwama in South Kashmir—and groups of young men broke curfew and threw stones at security forces.<ref name=toi-protest>{{cite news|first=M Saleem |last=Pandit |title=Curfew imposed across Kashmir to prevent protests |newspaper=The Times of India |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Curfew-imposed-across-Kashmir-to-prevent-protests/articleshow/18424311.cms}}</ref><ref name=countercurfew>{{cite web |last=Ahmad |first=Marouf |url=http://www.kashmirreader.com/02122013-ND-anti-india-protests-held-despite-strict-curfew-11459.aspx |title=Anti-India protests held despite strict curfew |publisher=Kashmirreader.com |date=2013-02-10 |access-date=2013-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629145444/http://www.kashmirreader.com/02122013-ND-anti-india-protests-held-despite-strict-curfew-11459.aspx |archive-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> Police fired at protesters, and 36 people were injured, including 23 policemen, said a police spokesperson, particularly around Guru's home district where most of the violence was concentrated.<ref name=indcurfew /><ref name=YN_protests_erupt /><ref name=countercurfew />

There were scuffles in Delhi where [[Bajrang Dal]] and [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] (VHP) members were celebrating the hanging of Afzal Guru. Soon [[Muslim]] students from [[Delhi University]] and [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] accompanied by members of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)]] (CPI(ML)), the [[People's Union for Democratic Rights]] (PUDR) and the [[Confederation of Human Rights Organizations|National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations]] (NCHRO), who were condemning [[capital punishment]], started a counter-protest in support of Afzal Guru. Tensions escalated as the rival protests took on a communal hue when both groups raised religious slogans and scuffled with each other as police struggled to keep them separated. Protesters holding protests on different issues too joined the foray against the Muslim students. The situation was brought under control by policemen in riot gear who bundled the students into waiting buses and drove them away. Delhi police [[baton charge|lathi charged]] protestors at Jantar Mantar. The police detained at least 21 muslim students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/protests-against-afzal-guru-s-hanging-at-jantar-mantar-21-detained/1071899/ |title=Protests against Afzal Guru's hanging at Jantar Mantar, 21 detained |work=Indian Express|date=2013-02-09 |access-date=2014-07-21}}</ref>

===Involved parties===
In an interview in 2006 with Jose, Guru said, "If you want to hang me, go ahead with it, but remember it will be a black spot on the judicial and political system of India."<ref name=vinod_interview />

In the letter written before his death, Guru wrote, "I am about to be hanged. Now, near the gallows, I want to tell you (family members) that I was not given enough time to write a detailed letter. I am thankful that Allah (God) chose me for this sacrifice. And please, take care of Tabasum and Galib."<ref name=lastletter />

SAR Geelani condemned Afzal Guru's hanging was a "cruel and politically motivated gimmick" and a " politically motivated decision."<ref name=aninews_gimmick>{{cite news |title=Afzal's hanging politically motivated gimmick: SAR Geelani |publisher=ANI News |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-27 |url=http://www.aninews.in//newsdetail2/story98413/afzal-hanging-039-politically-motivated-gimmick-039-s-a-r-geelani.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611042013/http://www.aninews.in//newsdetail2/story98413/afzal-hanging-039-politically-motivated-gimmick-039-s-a-r-geelani.html |archive-date=11 June 2015}}</ref>

Justice SN Dhinga, the Judge who sentenced Guru and co-accused Shaukat Guru and SAR Geelani to death in 2002, termed the execution a political move stating that the judiciary took just three years to decide the matter while the executive took eight years to implement the same.<ref name=ht-judge>{{cite news|last=Nair|first=Harish V|title=Afzal Guru's hanging a political move: judge who sentenced him|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaSectionPage-AfzalGuruExecution/Afzal-Guru-s-hanging-a-political-move-judge-who-sentenced-him/Article1-1009380.aspx|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210185134/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaSectionPage-AfzalGuruExecution/Afzal-Guru-s-hanging-a-political-move-judge-who-sentenced-him/Article1-1009380.aspx|archive-date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

===International Human Rights Groups===
[[Amnesty International]] condemned the execution saying that it 'indicates a disturbing and regressive trend towards executions shrouded in secrecy'. Shashikumar Velath, Programmes Director at Amnesty International India said "We condemn the execution in the strongest possible terms. This very regrettably puts India in opposition to the global trend towards moving away from the death penalty".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/india-new-execution-points-worrying-and-regressive-trend-2013-02-09 |title=Amnesty International &#124; India: New execution points to worrying and regressive trend |publisher=Amnesty.org |date=2013-02-09 |access-date=2013-05-26}}</ref>

===Pakistan===
In April 2013, Pakistan President [[Asif Ali Zardari]] condemned the execution of Afzal Guru inside the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The President said, "The hanging of Afzal Guru through the abuse of judicial process has further aggravated and angered the people of Kashmir."<ref>{{cite news|author =PTI news agency |title=In Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Asif Ali Zardari attacks Afzal Guru execution |date=17 April 2013 |access-date=2013-05-29 |publisher=NDTV |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-asif-ali-zardari-attacks-afzal-guru-execution-355464}}</ref>

===Political parties===
Most political parties<ref>{{cite news|author =PTI  |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/afzal-gurus-hanging-political-parties-say-justice-done/articleshow/18416558.cms |title=Afzal Guru's hanging: Political parties say justice done – The Economic Times |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2013-02-09 |access-date=2013-05-26}}</ref> with exception of [[Kashmiri Muslims|Kashmiri muslim]] politicians welcomed the move by the Government of India. The BJP stated that it was a correct move albeit very late. It also stated that the public opinion forced Afzal Guru's hanging.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/310971/public-opinion-forced-afzal-gurus.html |title=Public opinion forced Afzal Guru's hanging: BJP |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date=2013-02-09 |access-date=2013-05-26}}</ref><ref name=reactions />

A leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, now Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], tweeted "better late than never" after the news of Guru's execution by hanging had been announced.<ref name=LATimes /> Modi had previously been critical of the government for delaying Guru's execution after the Supreme Court's final decision.<ref>{{cite news|first=Manas |last=Dasgupta |title=Centre out to violate federal structure: Modi |newspaper=The Hindu|date=18 February 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2904417.ece |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party spokesman Naeem Akhtar also criticised Guru's burial inside the prison complex in New Delhi, saying the body should have been given to his family in Kashmir.<ref name=reactions>{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru hanging: voice of affirmation across political spectrum |newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-29  |author =PTI |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afzal-guru-hanging-voice-of-affirmation-across-political-spectrum/article4397059.ece |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The [[All Parties Hurriyat Conference]] announced a four-day mourning on the death of Guru.<ref name=reactions /> The Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, announced three-day mourning and the Kashmir flag waved at half mast.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guru's execution: AJK announces three-day mourning |newspaper=The News (Pakistan) |date=9 February 2013 |access-date=2013-05-29 |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-87368-Gurus-execution-AJK-announces-three-day-mourning}}</ref>

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister [[Omar Abdullah]] has been highly critical about Afzal Guru's hanging. He said the "biggest tragedy" of the execution was that he was not allowed to meet his family before he was hanged. He also suggested that the centre was "selective" in avenging attacks on symbols of democracy and backed the allegation that the legal process in the Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru's case was "flawed".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-11/news/37039380_1_afzal-guru-omar-abdullah-parliament-attack |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411040744/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-11/news/37039380_1_afzal-guru-omar-abdullah-parliament-attack |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 April 2013 |title=Omar Abdullah aligns with Kashmiri sentiment – Economic Times |work=The Economic Times |date= 11 February 2013 |access-date=2013-02-13}}</ref>

Omar Abdullah's father, Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Union minister [[Farooq Abdullah]] said: "Afzal Guru’s mercy petition was put before the President. He rejected it. The matter is over."<ref name=dh>{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru's case was different, says Shinde|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/311462/afzal-gurus-case-different-says.html|access-date=12 February 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=11 February 2013}}</ref>

===Legal experts===
[[The Hindu]] published in an article by [[Praveen Swami]] where he mentioned that legal experts have cast no small doubt on whether Guru received a fair trial, whether his guilt was proved and whether his death penalty was legitimate. It was cited that the debates on this case had engaged some of India's finest legal minds for months, both on the side of the state and defence. He also mentioned that the key actors in the attack were likely to get away, because no one could investigate them. In his words, ''"We are still far from knowing the full truth of 13/12. It is likely that many of the unanswered questions might resolve themselves if Pakistan were ever to arrest Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana [[Masood Azhar]] — currently living, in some luxury, in his Bahawalpur home. Nothing in recent experience – witness the 26/11 case – suggests this will happen."'' However, Swami was very critical of Arundhati Roy for asserting that political parties and the media had been in collusion.<ref name=hindu-canity />

===The press===
A minority of members of the Indian press criticised the manner in which the execution was carried out. In particular, the ''[[Times of India]]'' pointed out that since assumption of office as president Pranab Mukherjee had turned down three clemency petitions – [[Ajmal Amir Kasab]], Afzal Guru and Saibanna Ningappa Natekar.<ref name = ToIGuru>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/conspiracy-theory-was-due-process-flouted-to-deny-afzal-guru-a-bid-to-escape-hangman/articleshow/18425330.cms|title=Conspiracy theory: Was due process flouted to deny Guru a bid to escape hangman?|work=The Times of India|date=10 February 2013 |access-date= 11 February 2013}}</ref> The ''Times of India'' highlighted the possible lack of due process evident in the government's failure to comply with the stipulation of the jail manual to inform Guru's family about the date of the execution. The compromise is more evident in Guru's case because, unlike Kasab, his family members are Indians, who live in Kashmir. The rationale behind this stipulation is to provide the convict a chance to meet his family members for the last time.<ref name = ToIGuru/>

In a different article, the ''Times of India'' also noted that "There's no doubt, therefore, that the crime of which Afzal has been convicted falls in the "rarest of rare" category. In the event he's gone through due process, as exemplified in the acquittals or lesser sentencing of all three of his co-accused through various stages of the judicial process, depending on quality of evidence. Once the president rejected his mercy petition the government had no option but to carry out the death sentence."<ref>{{cite news|title=No politics please: Afzal Guru's execution must be seen through a legal prism alone|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/No-politics-please-Afzal-Gurus-execution-must-be-seen-through-a-legal-prism-alone/articleshow/18434017.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411040314/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-11/edit-page/37020845_1_afzal-guru-death-penalty-kashmir-valley|url-status=live|archive-date=11 April 2013|access-date=13 February 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=11 February 2013}}</ref>

However in another article, it was observed in ''The Hindu'' that though judicial determination will be – and ought to be – subjected to continued critical scrutiny but there is nothing to show the judicial system was blind to Guru’s legal rights. The article also criticised the journalists and political leaders of 'a certain kind' for not dealing with the "full truth".<ref name=hindu-canity>{{cite news|title=The vanity of 13/12 'truth-telling'|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-vanity-of-1312-truthtelling/article4400821.ece?homepage=true|access-date=13 February 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 February 2013|location=Chennai, India|first=Praveen|last=Swami}}</ref>
Dawn observed that the timing in which he was executed was clearly an attempt to thwart the impending criticism of the economy's dwindling growth rate which had reportedly come down to a 10-year low of five per cent. The hanging was also expected to make the Congress party look as hardline as the BJP. The demeanour is considered useful with the urban middle class voter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/784909/india-hangs-afzal-guru |title=India hangs Afzal Guru - Newspaper |publisher=Dawn.Com |date=2013-02-10 |access-date=2014-07-21}}</ref>

===Victims' families===
The families of victims of the 2001 parliament attack said that they will write to president Pranab Mukherjee to get back the bravery awards returned by them earlier. The families had earlier returned the medals to protest the delay in hanging.<ref>{{cite news|title=Parliament attack victims' kin to write to Pranab|url=http://india.nydailynews.com/politicsarticle/a5de360c332cc1c03bff3fae68efb84c/parliament-attack-victims-kin-to-write-to-pranab#ixzz2Kx3mntzQ|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411122914/http://india.nydailynews.com/politicsarticle/a5de360c332cc1c03bff3fae68efb84c/parliament-attack-victims-kin-to-write-to-pranab%23ixzz2Kx3mntzQ|url-status=dead|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=Daily News (USA)|archive-date= 11 April 2013|date=9 February 2013|location=New York}}</ref>

===Home minister===
Indian Union Home Minister [[Sushilkumar Shinde]] said that Afzal Guru's family was informed about the hanging decision on time. But the family was not aware of Guru's hanging since the Speed post letter sent by the Tihar jail authorities regarding the hanging of Afzal reached his family 2 days after his hanging.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_afzal-guru-hanging-two-days-later-speed-post-reaches-family_1798774 |title=Afzal Guru hanging: Two days later, speed post reaches family - India - DNA |date=11 February 2013 |publisher=Dnaindia.com |access-date=2013-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2013/02/12/two-days-after-hanging-speed-post-reaches-afzal-gurus-family/ |title=Two days after hanging, speed post reaches Afzal Guru's family |work=The Shillong Times|date=2013-02-12 |access-date=2013-05-26}}</ref> He defended the secrecy government maintained in the execution saying that it would not have happened had the decision been made public in advance.<ref name=zee-shinde>{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru's family was informed about the hanging decision on time: Shinde |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/afzal-guru-hanging/story/afzal-guru-hanging-sushilkumar-shinde-omar-abdullah-was-informed-about-decision-153783-2013-02-11|access-date=12 February 2013|newspaper=Zee News|date=11 February 2013}}</ref> He also denied the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's charge that he was kept in the dark about the centre's decision to hang him. He said: "I personally informed Omar about the execution. Also, the family of Afzal Guru was informed on the night of 7 February." Asserting the need to maintain secrecy, Shinde said, "This, as Ajmal Kasab's case, was extremely sensitive, government had to be very careful. Secrecy has to be maintained in such cases."<ref name=zee-shinde-2>{{cite news|title=Afzal Guru's execution was done as per law: Sushilkumar Shinde|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/afzal-guru-s-family-was-informed-about-the-hanging-decision-on-time-sushilkumar-shinde_828412.html|access-date=12 February 2013|newspaper=Zee News}}</ref> He also picked holes in Omar Abdullah's assertion that Parliament attack convict Guru's hanging was "out of turn."<ref name=dh />

===Lawyers' suspension===
On 13 February, few days after Guru's execution, lawyers N D Pancholi and [[Nandita Haksar]] withdrew as his family's counsel, citing "unseemly controversies" and "suspicion" by certain political groups in Kashmir. Without elaborating on the immediate reasons for their decision they said that in Kashmir some political groups feel these offers of solidarity and friendship with suspicion.<ref name=dc-law-resign>{{cite news|title=Lawyers of Afzal Guru's family withdraw|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/pages.php?id=311909|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=13 February 2013}}</ref>

===Handing over Guru's remains===
Guru's wife, Tabasum, had sought to claim his body which was buried in the Tihar Jail. However the Central government is likely to reject the request citing the Jail manual. The Delhi Jail manual states that the body may not be transferred to family/friends "if there are grounds for supposing that the prisoner's funeral will be an occasion for a demonstration".<ref name=ie-jail>{{cite news|title=Citing Delhi prison manual, Centre to reject Guru family's plea for his body|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/citing-delhi-prison-manual-centre-to-reject-afzal-familys-plea-for-his-body/1074587/|access-date=15 February 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=15 February 2013}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
===Books by him===
*'''''Ahle Imaan Ke Naam Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru Ka Aakhri Paigam''''' (''Martyr Afzal Guru's Last Message to the Peoples of Faith''), 2013. Released seven months after his hanging, this 94-page book, a compilation of diaries, calls for a renewed [[jihad]] against India and takes as model the [[Talibans]] and [[Mullah Omar]]. More than 5,000 copies of the book were printed and circulated, and for the book release a function was attended by Afzal's brother, Aijaz Guru.<ref>Ishfaq-ul-Hassan (18 September 2013), [https://zeenews.india.com/news/jammu-and-kashmir/afzal-gurus-book-stirs-up-a-hornets-nest-in-jammu-and-kashmir_877283.html "Afzal Guru`s book stirs up a hornet’s nest in Jammu and Kashmir"], ''ZeeNews''. Retrieved 13 May 2020.</ref>
*'''''Aina''''' (''Mirror''), Maktab-e-Irfan, Lahore, 2013. This book, ostensibly written by Afzal Guru while in Tihar jail, was published by [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] ten months after his hanging. It contains 132 short chapters attributed to Guru that talk about jihad, the situation in Kashmir, messages to the youth and other ideological issues. The book also has introductory and laudatory pieces written by [[Masood Azhar]], who said that Afzal wrote it in 2010 but couldn't find a publisher, as well as by other Jaish-e-Mohammed members.<ref>Muzamil Jaleel (18 February 2017), [https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/afzal-guru-and-the-jaishs-jihad-project/ "Afzal Guru and the Jaish’s jihad project"], ''IndianExpress''. Retrieved 2 April 2019.</ref> The book's use by later militants like [[Zakir Musa]] led the police to see Afzal Guru as having become an "insurgent spiritual leader".<ref>
Bilal Handoo (29 March 2018), [http://kashmirnarrator.com/the-untold-afzal-guru-story/ "The untold Afzal Guru story"], ''Kashmir Narrator''. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
</ref>

===Books about him===
*''Framing Geelani, hanging Afzal: Patriotism in the time of terror'' by Nandita Haksar, 2007.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Haksar |first=Nandita |title=Framing Geelani, hanging Afzal: patriotism in the time of terror |date=2007 |publisher=Promilla & Co., Publishers in association with Bibliophile South Asia |isbn=978-81-85002-80-4 |location=New Delhi |language=English |oclc=167765033}}</ref>
*''The Afzal petition: A quest for justice'' by Nandita Haksar (editor), 2007.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Afzal petition : a quest for justice. |date=2007 |publisher=Promilla & Co. Publishers in association with Bibliophile South Asia and Champa |others=Champa: the Amiya & B.G. Rao Foundation |isbn=978-81-85002-83-5 |location=New Delhi |oclc=181424377}}</ref>
*''Phānsī'' (''Hanging'') by Shabnam Qayyum, 2013.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Qayyūm |first=Shabnam |title=Phānsī : murattabah |date=2013 |publisher=Vaqār Pablīkeshanz |language=Urdu |oclc=889002448}}</ref>
*''The hanging of Afzal Guru and the strange case of the attack on the Indian parliament'' edited by [[Arundhati Roy]], 2013.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Arundhati |title=The hanging of Afzal Guru : and the strange case of the attack on the Indian parliament |date=2013 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=978-0-14-342075-0 |edition= |location=New Delhi |oclc=835036171}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[All Parties Hurriyat Conference|Hurriyat and Problems before Plebiscite]]
* [[Syed Ali Shah Geelani]]
* [[Kashmir conflict]]
* [[2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election]]
* [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]]
* [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]]
* [[Terrorism in India]]
* [[Capital punishment in India]]
* [[Human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir]]
* [[Human rights abuses in Azad Kashmir]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/mulakat-afzal?page=0,1 Vinod K. Jose, "Mulakat Afzal: The first interview Mohammad Afzal gave from inside Tihar jail, in 2006" (an interview translated and widely reprinted between 2006 and 2013)]
* {{cite news|title=Delhi High Court – State vs Mohd. Afzal And Ors|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1031426/|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=Indian Kanoon}}
* [http://www.judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=27092 Supreme Court judgement on Afzal Guru] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020205143/http://www.judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=27092 |date=20 October 2016 }}
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/366888.cms Bitta urges President not to pardon Afzal]
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2214714.cms Clemency-seekers weakened Afzal's defence]
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2061069.cms Terror needs direct response (Opinion)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130212024742/http://raviwar.com/dailynews/d3197_afzal-guru-life-story-20130209.shtml Life history of Afzal Guru (Hindi-language source)]

{{Kashmir separatist movement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guru, Afzal}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:21st-century executions by India]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in India]]
[[Category:Executed Indian people]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian murderers]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Kashmiri militants|Afzal, Mohammed]]
[[Category:Murder trials]]
[[Category:People convicted of murder by India]]
[[Category:People executed by India by hanging]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Islamists]]
[[Category:Inmates of Tihar Jail]]
[[Category:Indian people imprisoned on terrorism charges]]
[[Category:People convicted on terrorism charges]]
[[Category:Executed mass murderers]]