Srinagar: In a significant intervention, Indian occupation authorities barred senior APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from participating in a mass marriage ceremony for 60 orphan girls in Srinagar, in the region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the event, orchestrated by the Al Noor Trust, was designed to facilitate the Nikah of these orphan girls. The ceremony took place despite Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s ongoing house arrest which began on September 2. He managed to virtually address the gathering, praising the Al Noor Trust and its chairman, Shabir Ahmed Rather, for their dedication to organizing the event and underscoring the significance of maintaining simplicity in such ceremonies, viewing them as an act of worship rather than commercial transactions.

Mirwaiz’s speech also included a call to reject lavishness in matrimonial events and a critique of the government’s decision to prevent his physical presence, labeling it as “unfortunate” and “repressive.” The successful execution of the mass nikah event, despite the restrictions, underscored a strong communal resilience and was emblematic of ongoing resistance against governmental impositions in the region.

The initiative by the Al Noor Trust has received commendation for promoting social welfare and reinforcing community bonds in Kashmir, highlighting the collective commitment to address social challenges and uphold Islamic values within the community.