Mon Oct 07 18:33:28 UTC 2024: ## Jamaat-e-Islami Member Contests Kashmir Elections Despite Ban, Wearing GPS Tracker

**Srinagar, India** – A former leader of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Sikandar Malik, is contesting the Jammu and Kashmir elections as an independent candidate, defying the government ban on the organization. Malik, a former district president of Jamaat-e-Islami, was arrested multiple times since 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged anti-national activities and links to terrorism. Released on bail just two months before the elections, he is now campaigning wearing a GPS tracking anklet on his feet.

“I have been continuously arrested since 2019,” Malik said, adding that he accepted the GPS tracker to be able to move freely. He believes that the government should lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, stating that the party has never been against elections.

Malik’s decision to contest the election is driven by his belief that the 2024 parliamentary elections were conducted fairly, a stark contrast to the controversial 1987 elections that led Jamaat-e-Islami to support separatist movements and boycott elections.

The Home Ministry banned Jamaat-e-Islami in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the government has taken strong action against the group and other separatist organizations, arresting their leaders and seizing their assets.

The outcome of Malik’s candidacy, which falls in the third phase of voting, remains to be seen. His participation in the elections highlights the ongoing tension between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami and raises questions about the future of the banned organization in the region.

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