Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been under house arrest for more than 200 weeks, according to a statement put out by the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the managing body of the grand mosque in Srinagar. The Mirwaiz, who is also the chief priest of Kashmir, has been barred by authorities from delivering Friday sermons from the pulpit of the historic Jamia Masjid for a record 200 Fridays. The Kashmiri leader has been under house arrest since August 4, 2019, the day before the Indian government moved to revoke Article 370 and reorganize Jammu and Kashmir state into two Union Territories.
For over three years, the Anjuman and other groups have been calling for the Mirwaiz’s release. In March, pro-freedom groups staged a protest rally in Srinagar, demanding his release from house arrest. The Mirwaiz has played an important role in Kashmir’s political and social landscape, advocating for peace through dialogue between India and Pakistan and championing issues faced by the Kashmiri people. His prolonged detention has drawn widespread criticism, with many human rights groups and political leaders calling for his immediate release.
The Indian government has justified the crackdown on the Mirwaiz and other Kashmiri leaders as necessary to maintain law and order in the restive region. However, the move has been viewed by many as a heavy-handed attempt to stifle dissent and silence voices seeking self-determination for Kashmir.
The Mirwaiz’s continued detention has also had a profound impact on the people of Kashmir, particularly those who look to him for spiritual guidance and leadership. The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid has called on the Indian government to release the Mirwaiz and other political prisoners in order to restore normalcy to the region and promote peace and reconciliation.
