Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani has asked imams to offer prayers for Osama bin Laden, becoming Kashmir’s only political figure to come out in support of the slain al Qaida chief. “I appeal to all imams to lead Gayibana Nimaz-e-Jinaza (funeral prayers in absentia) for Laden after Friday prayers,” he said on Thursday.

Geelani, who dubbed Osama a “martyr” and symbol of resistance against “US oppression”, had planned to lead one such prayer but was put under house arrest on Thursday morning. “The West should realise oppression in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine will lead to resistance at every stage,” he said. Lashkar chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed held prayers for Osama in Pakistan earlier this week.