Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today alleged that he was placed under house arrest and barred from offering congregational prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid.
He linked his house detention to the upcoming observance of ‘Martyrs’ Day’ on July 13.
‘Martyrs’ Day’, an official holiday in Jammu and Kashmir before the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, commemorates the killing of 22 Kashmiris by Dogra forces on July 13, 1931, outside Srinagar Central Jail, where they had gathered to protest autocratic rule.
In a post on X, Mirwaiz who is also the chairman of Hurriyat Conference said he was disallowed to go to Jamia mosque and put under house arrest
“Disallowed to go to Jama Masjid today, put under house arrest, fearing the mention of the martyrs of 13th July 1931 in my friday sermon! The sacrifice of these martyrs and all the martyrs since, is etched in the collective memory of Kashmir and cannot not be undone by restrictions and bans. No living nation can forget the supreme sacrifice of life of its martyrs against tyranny and injustice,” Mirwaiz said.
J&K police and Home department, which comes under the Lt Governor, did not issue any statement on Mirwaiz’s house detention. Over the past few years the LG administration has rarely reacted to Mirwaiz’s house detention allegations.
The Mirwaiz, meanwhile, appealed to the authorities to remove the restrictions and allow people to peacefully pay homage to the ‘martyrs’ of July 13.
“Inshallah, if allowed as per our tradition, we will visit the martyrs graveyard on July 13th after Zuhr prayers and pay homage to the revered martyrs,” he said.
The National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq expressed concern over the house arrest of Mirwaiz.
“It’s deeply unfortunate and unacceptable that @MirwaizKashmir Umar Farooq Sahab has once again been detained at home prevented from fulfilling his religious duties. Silencing a religious leader, especially a day before 13th July, dishonours not just his voice but the legacy of our martyrs,” Sadiq said in a post on X.
“July 13, 1931, was a turning point in Kashmir’s history a brave stand against tyranny and injustice. No bans or restrictions can erase the memory of that sacrifice. Kashmir will always honour its martyrs with dignity, peace, and truth,” he added.
