Kashmir’s Voice Stifled: Mirwaiz Under House Arrest Again

Hurriyat Conference chairman and Jamia Masjid chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said he was placed into house arrest and was informed that he cannot move out. “It’s another Friday that I was barred from going to Jama Masjid to offer the sermon and obligatory Friday prayers,” Mirwaiz said in a statement.

He said he was allowed freedom of movement for a few weeks and then was again detained at home at the discretion of the authorities, by placing a vehicle in front of his gate. “Without being giving any reason I am simply informed that I can’t move out,” he said.

“As a religious and social figure, my activities are brought to a grinding halt causing distress to me and those associated with these activities,” he said, adding, “There is a Seerat conference and a MMU meeting planned on social issues that we had underlined to work around but rumour has it that I will be detained till end of UT elections for now,” said Mirwaiz.

“Restrictions and detentions will not deter me for pursuing what I believe in, as they haven’t weakened me in my resolve,” Mirwaiz said.

“So my suggestion to the dispensation is that if our collective aim is peace and normalcy then resolution of the conflict through political engagement with the aspirations and sentiments of the people of J&K is the way forward, not apathy and force. Use of force in fact undermines it,” he said.