Srinagar, In a move that has drawn condemnation from various quarters, authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have once again placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, under house arrest, preventing him from delivering his sermon and leading congregational Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the decision to bar Mirwaiz from attending the mosque was strongly criticized by the Jamia Masjid’s managing body, Anjuman Auqaf. In a statement, the body highlighted the repeated denial of permission for Mirwaiz to perform his religious duties at the mosque, especially condemning the continuous restrictions imposed on him since his release from four years of illegal house arrest. Despite being allowed to visit the Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers on three occasions, he has since been prevented from doing so every subsequent Friday.
The Anjuman expressed profound dismay over the administration’s ongoing refusal to provide any justifiable reasons for these restrictions, pointing out the significant distress and sense of injustice it has caused among the local population. The statement further emphasized that such actions infringe upon Mirwaiz’s fundamental religious rights and represent a blatant disregard for the principles of freedom of religion and belief. This exacerbates the feelings of alienation and injustice among the residents of the occupied territory.
The situation underscores the broader issues of religious freedom and human rights in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where political and religious leaders face ongoing restrictions on their liberties and activities.