Kashmir’s chief cleric and chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday expressed concern over what he termed as ongoing efforts to “divide” the Muslim community on sectarian, political, and social lines.
He cited the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act as a direct attack on Muslim identity and religious autonomy.
Mirwaiz who also heads the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), the largest amalgam of religious organisations in J&K, said this after visiting Budgam to offer condolences on the demise of prominent and respected Islamic scholar Aga Syed Baqir Al-Moosavi.
He regretted the ongoing efforts to fragment the Muslim community at various levels-sectarian, political, and social.
Citing the controversial Waqf Amendment Act as one such assault on the Muslim identity, Mirwaiz said that the MMU was not even allowed by the authorities to hold a meeting to discuss the matter.
“Despite this, we stand united-from the Valley to Jammu and Ladakh-in opposing this unjust law. We fully support and stand with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and will follow their lead and programme in this regard,” he said.
Mirwaiz expressed cautious optimism regarding the Supreme Court’s interim relief on the Waqf issue, hoping that the Apex Court will uphold the constitutional and religious rights of the Muslim community and ultimately strike down the discriminatory law.
Addressing the continued restrictions placed on him, Mirwaiz expressed deep anguish that he is repeatedly barred from offering Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, and that the mosque remains locked on important religious occasions.
“I have approached the High Court regarding my prolonged and arbitrary house arrest, and a hearing is scheduled for this week. I sincerely hope that the court will intervene and ask the government to cease this unjust interference in my religious rights,” he said.
