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{{Short description|Banned Islamist terrorist organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Students' Islamic Movement of India
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| abbreviation = SIMI
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| formation = {{Start date|1977|4}}
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| type = Designated terrorist organisation
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| location = [[India]]
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| key_people = Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi<ref>https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-is-simi-all-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-banned-organisation/story-Du9UmH5Jq1vMnBqu02LVbK.html</ref>
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The '''Students' Islamic Movement of India''' ([[Abbreviation|abbreviated]] '''SIMI''') is a banned terrorist<ref>{{Cite web|title=SIMI terrorist arrested at Hyderabad airport|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/simi-terrorist-arrested-at-hyderabad-airport20191012154259/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Key Member Of Terror Group SIMI, On The Run For 19 Years, Caught In Delhi|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/abdullah-danish-key-member-of-terror-group-simi-on-the-run-for-19-years-arrested-in-delhi-2335023|access-date=2021-02-12|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> organisation that was formed in [[Aligarh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] in April 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-30|title=Chicago's Indian American Muslim Council doth protest too much|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/chicagos-indian-american-muslim-council-doth-protest-much|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Sunday Guardian Live|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-31|title=What is SIMI: All you wanted to know about the banned organisation|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-is-simi-all-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-banned-organisation/story-Du9UmH5Jq1vMnBqu02LVbK.html|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The stated mission of SIMI is the ‘liberation of India’ by converting it to an Islamic land.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web |url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/simi.htm |title=Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) |access-date=24 August 2012}}</ref> The SIMI, an organisation of extremists has declared Jihad against India, the aim of which is to establish Dar-ul-Islam (land of Islam) by either forcefully converting everyone to Islam or by violence.<ref name=autogenerated2/> The Indian government describes it as a [[terrorist organisation]],<ref name="autogenerated2"/> and banned it in 2001, shortly after the [[9/11 attacks]]. The ban was lifted in August 2008 by a special tribunal, but was reinstated by [[K.G. Balakrishnan]], then [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]], on 6 August 2008 on national security grounds. SIMI's ideology and its objectives create fear and resentment among the people of India.

In February 2019, the [[Government of India]] extended ban on SIMI for a period of five more years starting February 1, 2019 under [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{cite news |title='They will disturb secular fabric': Government extends ban on SIMI by five years |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ban-on-simi-extended-by-5-years/story-9MmL1HqT6VqFGkrGhaNiOP.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=February 2, 2019}}</ref>

==Background==
On 25 April 1977, SIMI was founded in [[Aligarh]], in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], with Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi as its founding president.<ref name=autogenerated2b>{{cite web|url= http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/simi.htm |title=Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) |publisher=Satp.org }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-31|title=What is SIMI: All you wanted to know about the banned organisation|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-is-simi-all-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-banned-organisation/story-Du9UmH5Jq1vMnBqu02LVbK.html|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> (Siddiqi currently serves as a Professor of English and Journalism at [[Western Illinois University]] in Macomb, IL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://directory.wiu.edu/display.php?M-Siddiqi |title= University Directory: Western Illinois University |access-date= 29 January 2011}}</ref>).<ref name='fair201001'/> In 1981, SIMI activists protested against [[Palestinian Liberation Organization|PLO]] leader [[Yasser Arafat]]'s visit to India, and greeted him with black flags in New Delhi.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Young SIMI activists viewed Arafat as a Western puppet, while the senior [[Jamaat-e-Islami Hind]] (JIH) leaders saw Arafat as a champion of the [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] cause. The JIH also became uncomfortable with SIMI's support of the [[1979 Iranian Revolution]] and its communal orientation. After distancing itself from SIMI, JIH reverted to relying on the older student organization, SIO.<ref name='fair201001'/>

==Ideology==

SIMI maintains that concepts of [[secularism]], [[democracy]] and [[nationalism]], keystones of [[Indian Constitution]], are antithetical to [[Islam]]. Among its various objectives, SIMI aims to counter what it perceives as the increasing moral degeneration, sexual anarchy in Indian society and the 'in sensitiveness' of a 'decadent' [[Western world|West]]. They aim to restore the supremacy of Islam through the resurrection of the ''[[khilafat]]'', emphasis on the Muslim ''[[ummah]]'' and the waging of ''[[jihad]]''.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

According to Sayeed Khan, a former president of SIMI, the group became more militant and extremist in the backdrop of communal riots and violence between Hindu and Muslim groups in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.twocircles.net/2007jun27/seeds_extremism_communal_riots_sayeed_khan.html|title=Ex-SIMI member talks about SIMI|access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref>

==Clashes with Hindu Organisations==

SIMI organised violent protests against the demolition of the [[Babri Mosque]]. In the nationwide violence that followed the demolitions, SIMI activists clashed against the Police and the VHP.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Raja Mohan |first1=P. G. |title=TamilNadu: The Rise of Islamist Fundamentalism |journal=Faultlines |publisher=The Institute for Conflict Management |volume=16 |year=2005 |url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume16/Article%205.pdf}}</ref>

==Ban and aftermath==
The [[Government of India]], by notification dated 08-02-2006 banned SIMI for the third time. SIMI was first banned on 26 September 2001 immediately following the [[September 11 attacks]] in the United States. SIMI remained banned from 27 September 2001 to 27 September 2003 during which period several prosecutions were launched against its members under the provisions of [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act]], the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act ([[MCOCA]]), and the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] 1967.

SIMI was banned for the third time on 8 February 2006. The second ban of SIMI dated 27 September 2003 came to an end on 27 September 2005. Therefore, SIMI was in existence between 28 September 2005 and 7 February 2006 but was believed to be dysfunctional due to the fact that many of its members were demoralised or had crossed the age of 30 years; which automatically made them ineligible to continue as a member of SIMI - SIMI has an age limit of 30 years for membership. Many of its members had to fight cases registered against them by the Government.

However, on 27 July 2006, a spokesperson of the Indian Government told the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal held in New Delhi, that contrary to notions that SIMI's activities declined following its ban, the organisation "had stepped up its subversive activities and was involved in almost all major explosions, communal violence and circulation of inflammatory material across the country."

The ban notification and the background note stated that SIMI deserved to be banned for clandestine activities and links with around 20 organisations through whom SIMI was allegedly operating. The background note clearly says that there was no violent incident in which SIMI was involved in the last 2–3 years.

To prove its case against SIMI, the Government cited several cases under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] registered between 1998 and 2001.

The third ban on SIMI was lifted by the [[Delhi High Court]] Tribunal on 5 August 2008. "Material given by the home ministry is insufficient, so ban cannot be continued," Justice Geeta Mittal, a sitting Delhi High Court judge, said while lifting the ban.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twocircles.net/2008aug05/tribunal_lifts_ban_simi.html |title=Tribunal lifts ban on SIMI |date=5 August 2008 |publisher=Twocircles.net }}</ref> But the lifting of the ban was stayed by the supreme court of India on the next day itself(6 August 2008).

A special tribunal has upheld the ban imposed on SIMI by the Home Ministry under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The Tribunal's head confirming the ban held that SIMI has links with Pakistan-based terror outfits and its front, the Indian Mujahideen.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3723854.ece |title= Tribunal upholds SIMI ban | date= 4 August 2012 | work=The Hindu}}</ref>

==Transformation into Indian Mujahideen==
The exact nature of the relationship between SIMI and [[Indian Mujahideen]] (IM) is debated. Some analysts contend that IM is a militant branch of SIMI while others believe that the two groups are distinct although linked.<ref name='fair201001'>{{cite journal | title = Students Islamic Movement of India and the Indian Mujahideen: An Assessment | journal = Asia Policy | date = January 2010 | first1 = C. Christine | last1 = Fair | volume = 9 | issue = 9 | pages = 101–19| doi = 10.1353/asp.2010.0002 | s2cid = 154399804 | url = http://www.nbr.org/publications/asia_policy/Preview/AP9_IndiaIslam_preview.pdf | access-date = 27 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006083906/http://www.nbr.org/publications/asia_policy/Preview/AP9_IndiaIslam_preview.pdf |archive-date=6 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=HT_simi_IM>{{cite news|title=Simi to IM: Fasih key to change of identity|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Simi-to-IM-Fasih-key-to-change-of-identity/Article1-882401.aspx|access-date=3 July 2012|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=3 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703015954/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Simi-to-IM-Fasih-key-to-change-of-identity/Article1-882401.aspx|archive-date=3 July 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Front outfits==
SIMI operate under various [[Front organization|fronts]] to avoid law enforcement agencies after it ban in 2001. Some of these outfits include:
* Khair-e-Ummat Trust,
* Tahreek-e-Ahyaa-e-Ummat (TEU),
* Tehreek-Talaba-e-Arabia (TTA),
* Tahrik Tahaffuz-e-Sha´air-e-Islam (TTSI)
* Wahdat-e-Islami<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian Mujahideen: Mutating Threat |url=http://www.sify.com/news/indian-mujahideen-mutating-threat-news-terrorism-mfovbbfgfbdsi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916165741/http://www.sify.com/news/indian-mujahideen-mutating-threat-news-terrorism-mfovbbfgfbdsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-09-16 |work=Sify |language=en}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===2006===
*30 October: Noor-ul-Hooda, a SIMI activist, was arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in the [[2006 Malegaon blasts]]. Authorities said the bombs used in the blasts were assembled in the garage of "main conspirator" Shabbir at Malegaon.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-10-30/india/27803065_1_malegaon-blasts-simi-activist-textile-town | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215146/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-10-30/india/27803065_1_malegaon-blasts-simi-activist-textile-town | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 October 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Malegaon blasts: SIMI activist held | date=30 October 2006}}</ref> Maharashtra police claims that 2006 Malegaon blasts were the handiwork of ex-SIMI members. But later on Law enforcement agencies decided not to oppose bail plea of Muslim youths because the role of a Hindu Radical organisation became evident when investigation progressed further<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/nov/27malegaon.htm |title=Malegaon blasts case solved: Police |work=Rediff.com }}</ref>

===2007===
*15 February: The Supreme Court describes the banned Students Islamic Movement of India as a "secessionist movement."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/15simi.htm |title=SIMI a secessionist outfit: SC |work=Rediff.com }}</ref>

===2008===
*27 March: SIMI Ex-general secretary [[Safdar Nagori]] (Mahidpur), Amil Parvez(Unhel) arrested from [[Indore]], along with 10 alleged members of the group by [[Madhya Pradesh]] State Police's Special Task Force<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/top-simi-leaders-arrested-in-indore/289236/0|title=Top Simi leaders arrested in Indore}}</ref>
*5 August: Delhi High Court Tribunal lifts ban on SIMI. The lifting of the ban was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court of India on 6 August 2008.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rahul Tripathi, TNN 14 September 2008, 12.50 am IST |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-14/india/27916717_1_serial-blasts-rock-delhi-ghaffar-market-first-blast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021190146/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-14/india/27916717_1_serial-blasts-rock-delhi-ghaffar-market-first-blast |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Serial blasts rock Delhi |date=14 September 2008}}</ref>

===2012===
Union government extended the ban imposed on SIMI by two more years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/centre-extends-ban-on-simi-for-two-years_757453.html |title=Centre extends ban on SIMI for two years |date=9 February 2012|access-date=24 August 2012}}</ref>

===2014===
The Union government has renewed the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for another five years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ban-on-Simi-extended-for-5-years/articleshow/29966495.cms |title=Ban on Simi extended for 5 years |date=7 February 2014|access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref>

On 18 May 2014, at Bhopal district court, alleged members who were being produced before the court shouted pro-[[Taliban]] slogans saying "Taliban zindabad" (long live Taliban) and indicated a threat to designated Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] with "''Ab Modi ki baari hai''"(It is Modi's turn now) at Bhopal district court.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/threat-to-narendra-modi-terror-outfits-getting-desperate-1531539.html|title=Threat to Narendra Modi: Terror outfits getting desperate?|work=Firstpost|date=19 May 2014|access-date=20 May 2015}}</ref>

===2015===
* 7 April: Five suspected SIMI activists were shot dead in Nalagonda, [[Telangana]] by the same security team who were escorting them in a police van from [[Warangal]] jail to a [[Hyderabad]] court 150 km away. The police stated that they were trying to escape by snatching weapons. Later the relatives of the dead and some civil activists raised question on the authenticity of the incident. An inquiry by an executive magistrate and judicial inquiry has been ordered into the encounter incident, following a [[Supreme Court of India]] directive in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/5-suspected-simi-terrorists-killed-by-telangana-police-after-they-try-to-flee-attack-security-personnel/538404-62-270.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410000413/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/5-suspected-simi-terrorists-killed-by-telangana-police-after-they-try-to-flee-attack-security-personnel/538404-62-270.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2015|title=5 suspected SIMI terrorists killed by Telangana Police after they try to flee, attack security personnel|work=IBN Live|access-date=20 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=ndtv1>{{cite news|title=Suspected Terrorists Shot Dead While Handcuffed, Telangana Police Face Questions|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/suspected-terrorists-shot-dead-while-handcuffed-telangana-police-face-questions-753143|access-date=1 May 2015|publisher=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=5 Under-trials Dead, Not One Cop Injured.Tale Of An Encounter From Telangana That Is Too Perfect To Be True|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/5-undertrials-dead-not-one-cop-injured-tale-of-an-encounter-thats-too-perfect-to-be-true-231688.html|access-date=1 May 2015|publisher=India Times}}</ref>
* 1 May: A trial court in [[Hubli]], [[Karnataka]] acquitted 17 men who were arrested by [[Karnataka Police]] in 2008 on charges of terrorism and criminal conspiracy and allegedly being associated with the SIMI.<ref name=hubli>{{cite news|title=Seven years later, 17 'SIMI men' acquitted|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/former-simi-chief-nagori-16-other-suspected-activists-acquitted-by-court/|access-date=1 May 2015|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref>

===2016===
* 31 October: Eight SIMI activists were killed in alleged encounter after they escaped from high-security Bhopal jail with the help of spoons, plates & bedsheets. A head constable was killed in the incident. The encounter took place 10 km. away from the prison, on the outskirts of the city

===2018===
* In 2018, NIA court convicted 18 SIMI activists under Section 120B, Sections 10, 38 besides Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act. Thirteen accused were also found guilty under Section 20 (being members of a terrorist organisation/ gang). They were given up to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/ri-for-18-in-simi-camp-case/article23896441.ece|title=RI for 18 in SIMI camp case|date=15 May 2018|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Police-kill-8-SIMI-terrorists-who-escaped-jail/articleshow/55150477.cms|title=8 SIMI terrorists who escaped Bhopal Central Jail killed in encounter - Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/justice-markandey-katju-calls-simi-encounter-fake-facebook-post-terrorist-mp/1/799751.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/what-chouhans-biryani-remark-gives-away-about-simi-encounter-1620489|title = What Chouhan's Biryani Remark Gives Away About SIMI Encounter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.rediff.com/news/report/bhopal-encounter-8-simi-men-were-shot-at-least-twice-reveals-autopsy-report/20161102.htm|title =Slain SIMI men were shot above the waist, reveals autopsy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/simi-undertrails-encounter-in-bhopal-court-documents-demolish-mp-police-version-264736.html|title = The Bhopal-SIMI Encounter Controversy Won't Die Down, Court Documents Prove The MP Police Version Fake}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/18-get-7-years-ri-in-simi-camp-case/articleshow/64181746.cms|title=18 get 7 years rigorous imprisonment in SIMI camp case}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of organisations banned by the Government of India]]
* [[Darsgah-Jihad-O-Shahadat]]
* [[Deendar Anjuman]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Islamism and Democracy in India: The Transformation of Jamaat-e-Islami |first1=Irfan |last1=Ahmad |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0691139203}}

==External links==
*[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/talibans-mullah-omar-our-new-inspiration-n/296201/ Taliban’s Mullah Omar our new inspiration, not Osama: jailed SIMI chief]
*[http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=414 "Students Islamic Movement of India and the Indian Mujahideen: An Assessment," by C. Christine Fair (''Asia Policy'', January 2010)]
*[http://www.twocircles.net/2007jun27/seeds_extremism_communal_riots_sayeed_khan.html Ex-member of SIMI talks to TwoCircles.net]
*[http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/simi.htm South Asia Terrorism Portal]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061002152908/http://www.ipcs.org/Terrorism_kashmirLevel2.jsp?action=showView&kValue=2088&subCatID=1014&status=article&mod=g IPCS]
*[http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=146&page=8 SIMI arrests reveal Pak nexus]
*[http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne230808whatif_itwasme.asp Tehelkas' Investigative Report on SIMI and Authorities hunt]
*[http://directory.wiu.edu/display.php?M-Siddiqi' M-Siddiqui]
*[http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=728 Students Islamic Movement of India: A Profile]

{{IslamismSA}}
{{SIMI}}
{{Terror outfits}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Students Islamic Movement Of India}}
[[Category:Aligarh]]
[[Category:Anti-Hindu sentiment]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in India]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist in Asia]]
[[Category:Islamic organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Islamism in India]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Jihadist groups in India]]
[[Category:Student organizations established in 1977]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Student organisations in India]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by India]]
[[Category:Crime in Ujjain]]

Students' Islamic Movement of India - Revision history

imported>Citation bot: Alter: title. Add: work, s2cid, date. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | #UCB_webform 1960/2200