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Kashmiri Separatist Leader Lambasts US Republican Prez Hopeful

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 4: The hardline Kashmiri separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed the statement of US Republican party presidential hopeful, Tom Tancredo about targeting holy places of Islam as his frustration.

Tancredo, fearing terrorist attack, recently said, "If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Because that is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do".

In a hard hitting statement, Geelani said that Tancredo's statement has exposed the US policy towards Muslims. "Despite trying its best to hide its anti-Muslim approach, the statements emanating from its soil make it clear that United States has launched a crusade against Islam. Tancredo's statements points towards this fact.

He termed the latest statement of American Republican presidential hopeful as a setback to those Muslim leaders, who had been claiming that America is their friend and working on its 'directions'. "The statement of Tom should be an eye opener for these leaders and they should accept that under no circumstances the US can be their friend or ally", Geelani said.

Referring to the strife witnessed across the globe, the hardline Kashmiri leader, said, "it is a result of the clash of cultures. America and its allies through military power try to impose their own culture and ideology on the world while the Muslims are resisting it and this is leading to a clash between US and Muslims", Geelani said.

The ailing Kashmiri separatist leader added, "Muslims across the world won't allow the US to run its writ in the world".

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.