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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{short description|Kashmiri Separatist Leader}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Asiya Andrabi
| birth_date = 1962<ref name=r1>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/inside-kashmirs-new-islamist-movement/article580687.ece?ref=relatedNews|title=Inside Kashmir's New Islamist movement|date=19 August 2010|access-date=25 August 2016|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
| citizenship = Indian
| education = BSc [[Biochemistry]], M.A [[Arabic]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Kashmir]]
| party = [[Dukhtaran-e-Millat]]
| boards = Chairman of [[Dukhtaran-e-Millat]]
| spouse = [[Ashiq Hussain Faktoo]]
| children = 2
}}

'''Asiya Andrabi''' is a Kashmiri [[separatist]] and founding leader of [[Dukhtaran-e-Millat]] . This group is part of the separatist organisation [[All Parties Hurriyat Conference]] in the Kashmir valley. [[Government of India]] has declared it as a "banned organization".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mha.gov.in/banned-organisations|title=Banned Organisations {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs {{!}} GoI|website=mha.gov.in|language=en|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref> The organisation claims that it aims for the freedom of [[Kashmir]] from [[India]] .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/kashmir/life-times-asiya-andrabi/|title=Life and times of Asiya Andrabi – PKKH.tv|date=11 March 2014|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref>

Asiya Andrabi remains one of the most important women separatists in the valley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kashmirlit.org/asiya-andrabi-a-lifetime-of-fighting-for-freedom/|title = Kashmir Lit|date = 9 December 2019}}</ref> Asiya Andrabi was married to [[Ashiq Hussain Faktoo|Qasim Faktoo]] (a founding member of the [[Hizbul Mujahideen]]) in 1990. Her husband is in jail since 1992. By then, Asiya was already the head of Kashmir's biggest network of 'women jihadis' (as she describes her 'lieutenants of Dukhtaran-e-Millat').<ref name="indiatimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/For-the-first-family-of-militancy-a-troubled-road/articleshow/46571622.cms|title=For the first family of militancy, a troubled road – Times of India|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Jun/1/dr-qasim-faktoo-completes-22-yrs-in-incarceration-14.asp|title=Dr Qasim Faktoo completes 22 yrs in incarceration|website=Greater Kashmir|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402205240/http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Jun/1/dr-qasim-faktoo-completes-22-yrs-in-incarceration-14.asp|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref>

Asiya Andrabi has taken part in various protests in the [[Kashmir valley]]. She is best known for supporting [[Masarat Alam]] in the [[2010 Kashmir unrest]] across Kashmir by using her village network of [[Dukhtaran-e-Millat]] operatives for rally support.<ref name="indiatimes.com"/> She hoisted the Pakistan flag and sang the Pakistani national anthem in Kashmir on 25 March 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45-MQSrKDPw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/45-MQSrKDPw |archive-date=2021-12-18 |url-status=live|title=I Hoisted Pakistan Flag & Sung Pakistani National Anthem – Asiya Andrabi|last=TIMES NOW|date=24 March 2015|via=YouTube|access-date=25 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Later on, she was booked for unfurling the Pakistan flag on its national day in Srinagar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jk-separatist-asiya-andrabi-booked-for-unfurling-pakistan-flag-on-its-national-day-in-srinagar/536072-3-245.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325223530/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jk-separatist-asiya-andrabi-booked-for-unfurling-pakistan-flag-on-its-national-day-in-srinagar/536072-3-245.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 March 2015|title=J&K: Separatist Asiya Andrabi booked for unfurling Pakistan flag on its national day in Srinagar|date=25 March 2015|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref> On 12 September 2015, she slaughtered a cow and released a video in a bid to defy the ban on sale of beef in Jammu and Kashmir.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.tv/article-197235-Hurriyat-leader-Asiya-slaughters-cow-to-defy-ban-in-Srinagar|title=Hurriyat leader Asiya slaughters cow to defy ban in Srinagar|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref>

On 6 July 2018 Asiya was taken into custody by the [[National Investigation Agency|National Investigation Agency (NIA)]], India's federal anti-terror organisation, for allegedly "waging war against India" and other unlawful activities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dukhtaran-e-milat-chief-asiya-andrabi-two-others-taken-into-nia-custody/articleshow/64881213.cms|title=Dukhtaran-e-Milat chief Asiya Andrabi, two others taken into NIA custody - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nia-arrests-dukhtaran-e-millat-chief-asiya-andrabi-2-aides-in-sedition-case-1278919-2018-07-06|title=NIA arrests Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, 2 aides in sedition case|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref>

==Personal life and education==
Asiya did her [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] in [[Biochemistry]]. She did her post graduation in [[Arabic]] from [[Kashmir University]].<ref name="indiatimes.com" /><ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Life and times of Asiya Andrabi|url=http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/tag/asiya-andrabi/|access-date=3 April 2015|work=Rahiba R Parveen|agency=Pakistan Ka Khuda Hafiz(Policy Institute of Pakistan)|date=11 March 2014}}</ref> She married [[Ashiq Hussain Faktoo]] in 1990.<ref name="indiatimes.com" /> As of 2015, Asiya's husband Dr. Faktoo has been in jail for 23 years.<ref name="indiatimes.com" />

Her younger son, 15-year-old Ahmed bin Qasim, is in class IX in [[Srinagar]] while her older son, 22-year-old Muhammad bin Qasim, is living with Andrabi's elder sister in [[Malaysia]]. He is the captain of his university cricket team.<ref name="indiatimes.com" /> Most of Asiya’s relatives have shifted to [[Pakistan]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[England]] and [[Malaysia]].<ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/asiya-andrabis-3-nephews-arrested-in-pakistan-for-terror-links/article5114048.ece#|title=Asiya Andrabi's 3 nephews arrested in Pakistan for "terror links"|date=11 September 2013|access-date=25 August 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|last1=Fayyaz|first1=Ahmed Ali}}</ref> One of her nephews, Zulqarnain is a captain in the [[Pakistan Army]] and a second nephew Irtiyaz-un-Nabi is an aeronautical engineer and lecturer in the [[International Islamic University, Islamabad]].<ref name="thehindu.com" />

Andrabi founded her religious beliefs on the teachings of the neo-fundamentalist [[Jamiat Ahle Hadith|Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith]],<ref name=r1/> which adheres to the pristine teachings of Islam as to accept everything which is good according to religious text and reject what has not been enjoined by the Islamic [[Shariah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ahlehadees.org/about-ahle-hadith-hadees/markazi-jamiat-ahle-hadees-hadith-history.html|title=Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees Hind|access-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815194536/http://www.ahlehadees.org/about-ahle-hadith-hadees/markazi-jamiat-ahle-hadees-hadith-history.html|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Role in Kashmir politics==
In pro-Pakistan activism and separatism, Asiya is senior to [[Syed Ali Shah Geelani]] who used to be a member of the [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]] in the 1980s when she founded [[Dukhtaran-e-Millat]].<ref name="thehindu.com"/> In 1982, Asiya was associated with a Madrassa ‘Talimul Quran’ for women which was later turned into Dukhtaran-e-Millat. She started inviting women to read, understand and practice their faith. She was accused of mobilizing women against India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Life and times of Asiya Andrabi|url=http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/news/kashmir/life-times-asiya-andrabi/|access-date=6 May 2015|publisher=Pakistan Ka Khuda Hafiz|date=11 March 2014|quote=Read 35th line|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117073423/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/news/kashmir/life-times-asiya-andrabi/|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On inspiration behind formation of "Dukhtaran-e-Millat" she said, <blockquote>“I was an ambitious girl. I was shocked by this objection on my wish to study outside. But in that disappointed state Mayil Khairabadi’s book 'Khawateen ki Baatein' came to my rescue." </blockquote>The cover story of the book was of [[Maryam Jameelah|Maryam Jameela]], a Christian woman who converts to Islam after studying the religion thoroughly. For Asiya, Jameela’s story was “an eye opener” to practice Islam. Then Asiya turned to be fundamentalist Muslim.<ref name="auto" />

Asiya shot into prominence in the late 1980s when she launched the DeM essentially against social vices.<ref name="thehindu.com1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/a-mastermind-of-kashmir-protests/article600629.ece?ref=relatedNews|title=A mastermind of Kashmir protests|date=29 August 2010|access-date=25 August 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|last1=Bukhari|first1=Shujaat}}</ref> However, she jumped into the separatist campaign, which began with the armed insurgency in 1990.<ref name="thehindu.com1"/> In 1993 she was arrested for her anti-national activities, was later released in 1994, and she went underground until 2004.<ref name="auto"/>
Asiya faced monthly arrests in 2007 to 2009. During the unrest of 2010, she was held for two consecutive years.<ref name="auto"/> Along with [[Masarat Alam]] (leader of the pro-Pakistan Muslim League), Asiya is believed to be one of the masterminds of the [[2010 Kashmir unrest|protests of 2010]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Interpreting the Kashmiri vote|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/interpreting-the-kashmiri-vote/article6686791.ece|access-date=26 April 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|date=13 December 2014|quote=Read 7th Paragraph where they blamed the then CM Omar Abdullah and the police force under him for killings of 112 people.}}</ref> and they spearheaded the “Quit Jammu and Kashmir” campaign.<ref name="thehindu.com1"/> In 1982, Asiya was associated with a Darsgah Talimul Quran for women which was later turned into Dukhtaran-e-Millet. She started inviting women to read, understand and practice their faith. “This was the aim of my life now. We mobilized to bring Islam in our society,” she added.
One of the campaigns of the Darsgah was to demand reserved seats for ladies in local buses while other was to remove posters of nude women across the cinema halls – before the era of Militancy started in the valley.
It was only after five years of the formation of her organization, the government objected. “After the elections were held in 1987, darsgahs were locked throughout the valley. When they reached us, our women resisted. I was young and full of passion to resist,” Asiya added.
“But police raided my house and office. They told my father that I was mobilizing women against India but he retorted saying that I was just trying to bring social reform,” she recalls. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kashmirlit.org/asiya-andrabi-a-lifetime-of-fighting-for-freedom/|title = Kashmir Lit|date = 9 December 2019}}</ref>

==Arrests==
She was arrested on 28 August 2010 by [[Jammu and Kashmir Police]] for waging war against [[India]] and for inciting violence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/article600123.ece|title=Asiya Andrabi arrested|author=Shujaat Bukhari|date=28 August 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=24 July 2013}}</ref> She was again arrested on 17 September 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/jk-separatist-chief-asiya-andrabi-arrested-for-hoisting-pakistani-flag/|title=J&K: Separatist Asiya Andrabi arrested for hoisting Pakistani flag|date=18 September 2015|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref> in connection with a couple of cases registered against her. The cases included waving [[Pakistani flag]]s and addressing, via phone, a conference in Pakistan recently. Andrabi, who was not keeping well, as per DeM sources, was sent to [[Women's Police Station]], Rambagh, [[Srinagar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/j-k-separatist-leader-asiya-andrabi-arrested-in-srinagar/1/476624.html|title=J-K separatist leader Asiya Andrabi arrested in Srinagar|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref> The court granted her bail,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirreader.com/court-grants-bail-to-asiya-andrabi/|title=Court grants bail to Asiya Andrabi|date=25 September 2015|publisher=Kasmir Reader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004055016/http://www.kashmirreader.com/court-grants-bail-to-asiya-andrabi/|archive-date=4 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> but she was arrested again, and Kashmiris protested against her rearrest.<ref>[http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/dukhtaran-e-millat-protests-asiya-s-re-arrest-in-srinagar/197730.html Dukhtaran-e-Millat protests Asiya's re-arrest in Srinagar]. Greaterkashmir.com (1 October 2015). Retrieved on 2017-06-07.</ref>

On 6 July 2018 Asiya and two others connected to her, Nahida Nasreen and Sofi Fahmeeda, were shifted from Srinagar jail and brought to New Delhi by the [[National Investigation Agency|National Investigation Agency (NIA)]]. They have been booked under various sections of the [[Indian Penal Code|Indian Penal Code (IPC)]] for sedition apart from other things.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/jk-hc-grants-cancels-bail-granted-to-asiya-andrabi-4-others-in-terror-related-case-1249387-2018-06-03|title=JK HC grants cancels bail granted to Asiya Andrabi, 4 others in terror-related case|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref> Following this, on 16 July 2018, a Delhi court ordered the three to one month of judicial custody at [[Tihar Jail]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/jul/16/court-sends-kashmiri-separatist-asiya-andrabi-two-others-to-one-month-judicial-custody-1844046.html|title=Court sends Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi, two others to one-month judicial custody|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

==Criticism==
*Asiya has been criticised for inciting the Kashmiri youth to [[Jihad]] and "freedom fight" against [[India]], while her own son is pursuing higher studies in [[Malaysia]] on an Indian passport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Andrabi Seeking Indian Passport for Son Hypocrisy: Omar|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Andrabi-Seeking-Indian-Passport-for-Son-Hypocrisy-Omar/690781|access-date=4 April 2015|publisher=Outlook|date=18 August 2010}}</ref>
* Dr. Darakshan Andrabi who is the president of Socialistic Democratic Party of Jammu and Kashmir (also a Kashmiri politician ) said in 2010,<ref>{{cite news|title="Omar has failed Kashmir", "Asiya is adopting duality".|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/-omar-has-failed-kashmir-/673825/|access-date=3 April 2015|newspaper=Indian Express|date=29 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=We are for tricolour flag and our future lies with India: Andrabi|url=http://darakhshan786.blogspot.in/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=30|publisher=Blog of Darakshan Andrabi|access-date=31 July 2008}}</ref>

<blockquote>"I was the first one to talk about the duality that Asiya was adopting. We were happy that she wanted her son to secure an Indian passport and study IT in Malaysia but this should apply for all Kashmiri youth. Asiya should ask all Kashmiris to secure an Indian passport and educate themselves. Instead she exhorts the youth to shun everything and anything that is India."</blockquote>

* In 2001, she spearheaded a campaign to infuse a sense of modesty into Kashmiri women, which was criticised by members of the Kashmiri community.<ref>[https://archive.today/20141207161648/http://www.thehindu.com/2001/09/14/stories/0214000k.htm Kashmiri women bear the brunt again]. The Hindu (14 September 2001). Retrieved on 2017-06-07.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kashmir conflict]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Kashmir separatist movement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrabi, Asiya}}
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Kashmir separatist movement]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:University of Kashmir alumni]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Islamists]]
[[Category:Leaders of Islamic terror groups]]
[[Category:Kashmiri militants]]

Asiya Andrabi - Revision history

Bot at 07:26, 14 October 2022