Srinagar, Aug 14 (IANS) Senior religious leader and chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said he was placed under house arrest here on Friday and termed the frequent restrictions as “highly condemnable”.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest and prevented from proceeding to the historic Jama Masjid here to offer Friday prayers and address the congregation.
Reacting to the restriction in a post on X, the Mirwaiz said: “Placed under house arrest yet again, on the eve of the blessed month of Rabi-ul-Awwal. The repeated and arbitrary restrictions imposed on Fridays are highly condemnable”.
Questioning the repeated curbs despite official claims of normalcy, he said: “If the authorities themselves do not trust their own narrative of ‘normalcy’ enough to repeatedly prevent me from going to Jama Masjid, what credibility does that narrative have?”
Meanwhile, the Mirwaiz greeted Muslims across Jammu and Kashmir and the world on the arrival of the blessed month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, saying the month is an important occasion to renew one’s connection with the Seerah and Sunnah of the Prophet and to reflect upon his message of faith, mercy, compassion, justice, good character and service to humanity.
The Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid has also announced that, as per the centuries-old tradition, on Monday, corresponding to the 3rd of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the Mirwaiz will deliver a special sermon at the historic Khanqah-e-Naqshband Sahib, Khwaja Bazar, Srinagar, on the occasion of Khwaja Digar.
The programme will be held from Zuhr to Asr prayers. People have been invited to participate in the blessed gathering and benefit from the occasion.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also heads the Awami Action Committee (AAC), which was declared an unlawful organisation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on March 11, 2025, and a five-year ban was imposed on it.
The government also banned Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) for the same duration.
–IANS
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