Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Wednesday urged the authorities to release all detainees and seriously reconsider their “policy of continued censorship and punishment for freedom of expression.”
Mirwaiz, who also heads the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), an amalgam of Islamic religious organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, praised the Muslims of the union Territory for showing unity and solidarity over the events in Iran.
“From the Valley of Kashmir to Pir Panjal and Jammu, the unity in grief and condemnation over the events in Iran shown by the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, as one Ummah, is commendable. It reflects the living moral conscience of our society, standing firmly against oppression and unwaveringly with the oppressed. The shutdown observed across the region is a peaceful and powerful expression of that solidarity,” Mirwaiz said on X.
He condemned detentions and social media restrictions related to protests, and called for respect for civil liberties and freedom of expression.
“The right to peaceful protest and expression of wounded sentiments must be respected. Reports of protesters and mourners, including women and minors, being detained are unfortunate and unwarranted.
As is the filing of FIRs and the withholding of accounts of local media outlets for covering protests by social media platforms, including Facebook, under enforcement laws of the land,” he said.
“The authorities should release all those detained and seriously relook at their policy of continued censorship and punishment for freedom of expression,” Mirwaiz said.
Since Sunday, Kashmir has been witnessing widespread protests against the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israel attacks.
On Sunday, thousands gathered at Lal Chowk to protest the killing. The protests remained peaceful that day. The J&K government later imposed strict restrictions in several parts to thwart further demonstrations.
However, despite the restrictions, protests were reported from some areas over the past two days, leaving several people, including security personnel, injured.
