Separatist leader Shabir Shah: A political life between activism and detention

By Raqif Makhdoomi

A recent video on social media showed a young woman in a headscarf, visibly distressed, appealing to the Government of India for medical attention for her ailing father, Shabir Ahmed Shah. While her request drew both support and criticism online, it revived public attention on the long and controversial history of the separatist leader from Kashmir.

Shabir Ahmed Shah, born on 14 June 1953 in Kadipora, Anantnag (South Kashmir), comes from a business family. He completed his education up to higher secondary school. His political journey began early—he was first arrested at the age of 14 in 1968 for leading a protest against the government. During his early incarcerations, he came into contact with several like-minded political figures, including Nazir Ahmad Wani, Abdul Majid Pathan, and Altaf Khan (alias Azam Inquilabi). In 1974, while Shah was still in custody, his associates formed the Jammu Kashmir People's League to oppose the Indira-Abdullah Accord of 1975. Shah himself continued to be frequently arrested throughout the 1970s and 1980s under various charges related to protests, political dissent, and organizing demonstrations.

In 1998, Shah founded the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP), which advocated for the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. His party became part of the larger separatist political framework that challenged India’s position in the region.

Shabir Shah has spent a considerable part of his life in prison. His detentions span from the late 1960s to the present, involving multiple arrests and periods in both preventive and judicial custody. He was arrested again in 2017 and has remained in jail since 2020 under cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including alleged involvement in terror funding. In 2024, he was granted bail in one such case but continued to be held in connection with others. In June 2025, the Delhi High Court rejected a plea for bail, citing the possibility of Shah tampering with witnesses.

At one point, Shah is reported to have played a role in facilitating electoral processes in Kashmir. According to former R&AW official A.S. Dulat in his book “Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years,” Shah acted as an intermediary during efforts to revive democratic participation in the region in the aftermath of political unrest and electoral disputes. Dulat recalls Shah cooperating with officials during his time in detention under the Vajpayee administration.

Shah’s family has appealed for his release on medical grounds, citing his advanced age (72) and deteriorating health. His supporters argue that humanitarian considerations should be taken into account. Comparisons have been drawn with other high-profile detainees who have received medical bail.

Shabir Shah’s life and political career have been marked by consistent advocacy for separatist politics in Kashmir and by long periods of detention. While his actions remain a subject of sharp debate, calls for his medical bail raise broader questions about human rights, legal precedent, and the treatment of political prisoners in India.

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Raqif Makhdoomi is a law student and human rights activist

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