Kashmiri Separatist Asiya Andrabi Sentenced To Life Imprisonment In UAPA Case | Who Is She?

New Delhi: A special NIA court on Tuesday sentenced Kashmiri separatist and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment in a terror case lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Her associates, Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, were awarded 30-year imprisonment in the same case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) told the court that Asiya Andrabi deserved the strictest punishment since her actions amounted to waging war against the country.

Who Is Asiya Andrabi?

Asiya Andrabi is a hardline Kashmiri separatist and the Founder of Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DEM), an all-women organistaion that advocated for the ‘independence’ of Kashmir through means including ‘jihad’.

Andrabi was arrested in 2018 and was charged under sections relating to waging war against India, sedition, promoting enmity between communities and terror conspiracy under UAPA. Asiya Andrabi and her two associates were convicted in 2016.

Andrabi founded the Dukhtaran-e-Millat in 1987. The organisation, which is banned by the government of India, is allegedly part of Kashmiri separatist organisation All Parties Hurriyat Conference. It was allegedly funded by Pakistan-based terrorist organistaions and incited the people of Kashmir to rebel against the government of India.

'Asiya Andrabi Is A Terrorist': BJP Leader

After Andrabi was sentenced to life imprisonment, Jammu and Kashmir BJP Spokesperson Altaf Thakur said, “Asiya Andrabi is a terrorist… She was involved in strikes, stone-pelting, harassment, and radicalising students from schools and universities."

“She is a danger to the security of Jammu & Kashmir and the whole country. She wanted to separate Jammu & Kashmir from India… She acted as a terrorist leader during the 90s. BJP welcomes the life imprisonment sentence… Two of her associates made life hell for the women and girls of Jammu & Kashmir. We live in a democracy, you cannot dictate one’s clothing and lifestyle here… They should be hanged,” the BJP leader added.

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