Srinagar, 13 Oct 2023: In a recent development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime sealed the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and imposed house arrest on senior APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, as reported by Kashmir Media Service (KMS). While the authorities have halted Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid, the Anjuman Auqaf, responsible for the mosque’s administration, expressed profound surprise and regret at the actions undertaken. Furthermore, amidst these repressive moves, the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC), Jordan, has listed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq amongst the 500 most influential Muslim personalities globally for the year 2024.

KMS reports indicate that the gates of the Jamia Masjid were locked from the outside by Indian police officials. The Anjuman Auqaf, having received communication from the police authorities about the restriction on Friday prayers, expressed their stance in a statement issued, wherein they conveyed their deep concern and astonishment at the sudden and seemingly unprovoked closure of the mosque. This event marks another instance where Friday prayers were disallowed at the historical religious site.

Simultaneously, senior APHC leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has been confined to his residence, being placed under house arrest with paramilitary and police personnel deployed outside both his residence and the Jamia Masjid. This confinement comes after his recent release from a prolonged detention of over four years and is condemned by the Anjuman Auqaf in their statement.

Despite the contentious circumstances in his local environment, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has gained recognition on an international platform, being listed among the world’s 500 most influential Muslims for the tenth consecutive year by the RISSC. This Jordan-based independent research entity acknowledged his advocacy for dialogue between India and Pakistan to realize the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The RISSC, affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, highlighted Mirwaiz’s extensive house arrest and noted the emotional response elicited by his release in September and subsequent attendance at the Jamia Masjid.

This confluence of local restriction and international recognition underscores the tense and complex socio-political landscape within which leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq operate and the broader implications of local governance strategies on international perceptions and relations.