Gulzar Azmi Explained

Gulzar Azmi (1 May 1934–20 August 2023) was an Indian Muslim social activist^{[1] [2]} who led the Legal Cell Institute of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}

Early life

Gulzar Azmi was born on May 1, 1934 in Bombay. His father's name was Noor Mohammad. Native place was Kharewan, Azamgarh UP. He spent his life mostly at Mumbai. He was the fifth among his six brothers and sisters. At age of just 5, his mother's shadow lifted from his head. His early education was in JR Municipal School, Imam bada, Mumbai, where he receive school education up to the fifth standard, then he entered the Department of Theology and Arabic at Madrasa Darul Uloom Islamia, Muhammad Ali Road, Mumbai. After the education he started working as a lathe machine turner with his big brother. In early ages he participated in socialist movements and socio-religious groups. Since 1950s, he started working for Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. He became a senior leader in the party.^[11] Upon the split of Jamiat, Gulzar stood with Arshad Madani^{[12] [13]} faction in 2008.

In early 2015, he was awarded the Sipah Salaar-e-Millat Award by Bazm-e-Sham'-e-Adab, Mumbai, for his meritorious services.^[14]

Legal cell

From 2006, a legal cell was started by Jamiat, to provide legal support to falsely Implicated Terror-Accused.^[15] Gulzar Azmi was heading the team of legal cell.^{[16] [17] [18] [19] [20]} He oversaw cases of more than 500 people who were mostly framed in terror cases. At the time of his death on 20 August 2023, he and his team were handling cases of people which included 75 people who were sentenced to death and 125 to lifetime in prison.

Gulzar, he spent his time to build legal team in every state of India. Shahid Azmi, was one of his first associate lawyers,^{[21] [22] [23]} who was representing accused of 2006 Mumbai train bombings, 2006 Malegaon bombings,^[24] Ghatkopar blasts case, 2008 Mumbai terror attack case at time of his death by shooting by gangsters. The Legal cell tried to get justice for suspects in framed terror cases, from trial court up to Supreme court.^{[11] [25] [26]}

Gulzar on behalf of Legal cell, started scholarship programs to study law from the community. Every year the organization sponsors 25 to 30 law students to empower their team.^[27]

Death

On Sunday, 13 August 2023, when Gulzar Sahab was going to make an ablution for Maghrib prayer, his foot slipped, and he fell on his head. At that time, he did not feel the injury and did not even remember that he had fallen. Later he went to sleep after having dinner. The next morning when Gulzar Sahab did not regain consciousness, he was admitted to Massena Hospital, Mumbai, where the initial treatment revealed that his brain had shifted from its place and blood had clotted in the brain. Doctors immediately started brain surgery and the treatment was successful, but he did not regain consciousness. On August 20, 2023, at 10:27 in the morning, his heart stopped beating and he died. His cremation prayers were offered at Piru Lane, Pathan Wadi and his body was buried at Marine Line Graveyard. He died at the age of 89. ^{[28] [29] [30]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: 5 February 2014 . 'Ya Rab' faces court challenge . 21 August 2024 . . en.
2. Web site: 11 October 2017 . Cleric slams draft Haj policy, says equality should start with . 21 August 2024 . Business Standard . en.
3. Web site: TwoCircles.net . 2015-01-09 . Gulzar Azmi: A man with hunger for integrity and justice . 2023-08-23 . TwoCircles.net . en-US.
4. Web site: Tarar . Aditya . 2022-06-13 . The matter of bulldozer action reached the Supreme Court, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind filed a petition . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823093253/https://hindustannewshub.com/india-news/the-matter-of-bulldozer-action-reached-the-supreme-court-jamiat-ulema-e-hind-filed-a-petition/ . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23 . Hindustan News Hub . en-US.
5. News: 2014-12-13 . Jamait Ulema-e-Hind slams BJP leader over terror charge, ban demand . The Economic Times . 2023-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220322165707/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jamait-ulema-e-hind-slams-bjp-leader-over-terror-charge-ban-demand/articleshow/45505278.cms . 2022-03-22 . 0013-0389.
6. Web site: Sabrang Alternative News Network . 2023-08-23 . sabrang.com.
7. Web site: Munsif . 2023-02-03 . Supreme Court questions Love Jihad Law constitutionality, asks Central Government response . 2023-08-23 . The Munsif Daily Latest News India World News National and International Headlines . en-us.
8. Web site: Akshardham Temple attack case: Six acquitted seek compensation from Gujarat government . 2023-08-23 . DNA India . en.
9. Web site: Initiative to free nine 'framed' for blast Cops on thin ice after Aseemanand case . 2023-08-23 . www.telegraphindia.com . en.
10. Web site: From Religious Harmony to Communalism to Terrorism to Genocide . 2024-08-20 . The Milli Gazette . en.
11. Web site: How Gulzar Azmi Helped Wrongly Implicated Terror-Accused Fight for Justice Across India . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823072836/https://thewire.in/rights/how-gulzar-azmi-helped-wrongly-implicated-terror-accused-fight-for-justice-across-india . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23 . The Wire.
12. News: 2015-07-23 . NGO working for Muslim community gives scholarship to Hindus . The Economic Times . 2023-08-23 . 0013-0389.
13. Web site: Arshad Madni elected JUH head for fourth time . 2024-08-20 . The Milli Gazette . en.
14. Web site: 15 February 2015 . AWARDS . 2024-08-20 . The Milli Gazette . en.
15. Web site: An innocent man deserves a fair trial: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president . 2023-08-23 . The New Indian Express.
16. Web site: Gulzar Azmi, Face Of Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind And Advocate For Terror Accused, Passes Away . 2023-08-23 . Free Press Journal . en.
17. News: 2016-07-06 . Ramadan charity seeks to free 'innocent' Indian Muslims . 2024-08-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
18. Web site: 2016-06-07 . Bid to use zakat to fund defence of Muslims accused in terror cases . 2024-08-20 . The Indian Express . en.
19. News: Two men, cleared of UAPA charges, regret the 9 years they lost in jail . 21 August 2024 . India Today . 17 June 2021.
20. Web site: लखनऊ से गिरफ्तार संदिग्धों को कानूनी मदद देगी जमीयत उलेमा-ए-हिंद, आरोपियों के परिवार ने की थी अपील . Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind will provide legal help to the suspects arrested from Lucknow, the family of the accused had appealed . 2024-08-20 . Navbharat Times . hi.
21. Book: Sayed . Nazia . Six Minutes of Terror: The Untold Story of the 7/11 Mumbai Train Blasts . Hakim . Sharmin . 2016-09-12 . Penguin UK . 978-93-86057-52-5 . en.
22. Web site: Mandhani . Apoorva . 2022-07-22 . Shahid Azmi fought for wrongly accused all life. His own murder case let down by Jamiat, court . 2024-08-20 . ThePrint . en-US.
23. Web site: 19 March 2017 . Threats, slurs, insults: It’s a hard life for lawyers defending terror suspects . 21 August 2024 . Hindustan Times . en.
24. Web site: Malegaon blast: 7 accused to walk free today after 5 yrs . 2023-08-23 . India Today . en.
25. Web site: Death sentence given in India train blasts case . 2024-08-20 . Al Jazeera . en.
26. Web site: 2022-08-28 . Aurangabad Arms Case: Bilal Katib breathes fresh air after 16 years . 2024-08-20 . ETV Bharat News . en.
27. Web site: 2015-07-23 . NGO working for Muslim community gives scholarship to Hindus students . 2024-08-20 . The Indian Express . en.
28. https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/gulzar-azmi-face-of-jamiat-ulema-i-hind-and-advocate-for-terror-accused-passes-away Gulzar Azmi, Face Of Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind And Advocate For Terror Accused, Passes Away
29. Web site: 2023-08-20 . ഭീകരവാദ കേസുകളിലെ നിരപരാധികൾക്ക് വേണ്ടി പോരാടിയ ജംഇയ്യത്ത് നേതാവ് ഗുൽസാർ അസ്മി അന്തരിച്ചു . Jamiat leader Gulzar Azmi, who fought for innocent people in terrorism cases, passed away . 2024-08-20 . . ml.
30. Web site: Taslim . Nuruddin . 2023-12-28 . ২০২৩ সালে আন্তর্জাতিক অঙ্গন থেকে বিদায় নিয়েছেন যে আলেমরা . Scholars who departed from the international arena in 2023 . 2024-08-20 . . bn.