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Explained: Who is Andrabi?

Andrabi is the founder and chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat – the women’s hard-line separatist outfit in the Valley -- that was originally set-up as an organisation for social reforms.

kashmir, kashmir pak flags, Dukhtaran e Millat, Asiya Andrabi, DeM Dukhtaran e Millat, Dukhtaran e Millat pak flags, Dukhtaran e Millat kashmir, pak national anthem, Pakistan Independence Day, Nation news, pak latest news Investigations began into the alleged hoisting of Pakistani flag by Aasiya Andrabi on Monday.

Chief of the separatist hardline women’s organization Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM) (Daughters of Nation) Syed Aasiya Andrabi has stoked a controversy again by telephonically addressing a Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) rally in Pakistan that was also attended by JuD Chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed on August 14. The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), a coalition partner in the J&K state government, has called for a case of treason against Andrabi. Andrabi has been booked by the police for also hoisting the Pakistan flag.

This is not the first time that Andrabi has been in news for her open pro-Pakistan and pro-militant stand. In March this year, she was booked for hoisting Pakistani flag in Srinagar, something she repeated last week on Pakistan’s Independence Day.

Andrabi is the founder and chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat – the women’s hard-line separatist outfit in the Valley — that was originally set-up as an organisation for social reforms.

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Born in 1963, Andrabi completed her graduation in Home Sciences from Government Women’s College in Srinagar. She wanted to move to Darjeeeling for a post graduation but was not permitted to by her parents. It was then that she started to read Islamic literature which “changed” her outlook. She then joined the women’s wing of Jamat-e-Islami, a socio-political party.

In 1985, Aasiya Andrabi separated from Jamat-e-Islmai and formed Dukhtaran-e-Millat as a reformist organisation. For the first time, the party rose to prominence in 1991 when it started a campaign to enforce veil in the Valley.

In 1990, Aasiya Andrabi married Ashiq Hussain Faktoo (popularly known as Mohammad Qasim) – one of the top militant commanders in the Valley who is serving life imprisonment for his “involvement” in the killing of human rights activist H N Wanchoo. In 1993, she was arrested for 13 months along with her husband and infant child. Since then, Andrabi has been in and out of the jail several times. Police have also booked her under the Public Safety Act (PSA) many times.

Dukhtaran has hundreds of members across the Kashmir valley. The outfit is known for its hardline views and is openly calling for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. However, the women’s outfit is not taken seriously by many in Kashmir.

Curated For You

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

 

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