Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent Kashmiri cleric and political leader, was finally allowed to lead Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, expressing his anguish over repeated restrictions imposed on him and emphasizing the mosque’s longstanding advocacy for peace and conflict resolution.
According to Kashmir Media Service, after months of confinement, Mirwaiz, the Anjuman Auqaf of Jamia Masjid’s president and a senior figure in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, was permitted to leave his house arrest to attend and lead prayers at the mosque. This development came after intermittent periods of detention since August 2019, interrupted briefly last year before a subsequent reinstatement of restrictions following geopolitical tensions.
During his address, Mirwaiz shared his distress over the ongoing limitations curtailing his presence at Jamia Masjid, underscoring the significance of the mosque as a beacon of faith and community solidarity. His enforced absences from major religious observances had not only affected him personally but had also resonated with the community that values the mosque’s historical role in spiritual guidance and social discourse.
As legal proceedings for his complete release continue, Mirwaiz expressed hope that the judiciary would ensure his freedom, particularly to fulfill his religious duties. With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, he emphasized the mosque’s centuries-old tradition of hosting religious gatherings, voicing his aspiration to lead the upcoming Ramadan events without hindrance.
This recent allowance for Mirwaiz to attend and speak at Jamia Masjid has raised hopes among his followers and the broader community for a return to normalcy in their religious and communal life, especially with the significant month of Ramadan on the horizon.