Hurriyat chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to release Kashmiri prisoners from a humanitarian and democratic perspective.
He urged the government to release the detainees to end the prolonged ordeal of those in custody and their families, saying such a gesture would help win the hearts and goodwill of the people of Kashmir.
While addressing today’s congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar said that October 10 marks the day when Mirwaiz Farooq, the founder of Awami Action Committee, was taken to jail in 1965, where he spent the next three years facing severe hardships that left a lasting impact on his health for the rest of his life.
Mirwaiz said that the story, unfortunately, continues even today, as hundreds of Kashmiris, young and old, from all walks of life continue to languish in jails for years and even decades, many under draconian laws, merely for holding “dissenting views.”
“Their mental and physical health has been gravely affected, and their families continue to suffer immensely,” he said.
He said among those imprisoned are political leaders including Shabir Shah, Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi, Aftab Shah, and even the likes of Engineer Rashid and Mehraj Malik who remain behind bars.
“I once again appeal to the Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister, to relook at this matter from a humanitarian and democratic perspective and release these detainees to end the prolonged ordeal faced by them and their families,” he said.
Mirwaiz said such a step would go a long way in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmir and earning their goodwill.
