My activities as religious figure brought to grinding halt: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, Sep 09 : Jamia Masjid head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said that his activities as a religious figure are brought to a grinding halt and that there are rumours that he will be detained till the end of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mirwaiz has said that “It’s another Friday that I was barred from going to Jama Masjid to offer the sermon and obligatory Friday prayers. It’s been a routine since I was released from house detention last September after going to courts. I am allowed freedom of movement for a few weeks and then detained at home at the discretion of the authorities, by placing a vehicle in front of my gate. Without giving any reason I am simply informed that I can’t move out.”

“It’s very disconcerting and authoritarian that my freedom and liberty is at their command. As a religious and social figure my activities are brought to a grinding halt causing distress to me and those associated with these activities. In two days it’s the 3rd of Rabi Ul Alwal when as per tradition I am to deliver a relevant religious sermon on the occasion of “Khawaja Digar” to be attended by tens of thousands of people after a gap of 5 years due to my house arrest. It does not seem that I will once again be allowed,” he said.

“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,” he added.

“This is a reflection of the negative thinking on the part of the authorities. For the last many decades we have repeatedly been asking for release of thousands of youth, political leaders and activists, journalist and civil society members and now lawyers detained in jails in JK and across India. But instead more and more people are persecuted and detained each day. I have been informed that in view of the UT elections people especially youth are being asked to come to their local police stations for surety bonds. This is harassment,” Mirwaiz said.

“I have always said that putting thousands and thousands of people in detention and jails or under house arrest, snatching their fundamental right to liberty and freedom, you are not ensuring so-called “peace and normalcy”. Unfortunately you are actually enforcing it by force and intimidating people into silence, which in the long run is unsustainable,” he added.

“So my suggestion to the dispensation is that if our collective aim is peace and normalcy then resolution of the conflict – 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. My dear friends, restrictions and detentions will not deter me from pursuing what I believe in as they haven’t weakened you in your resolve. I wanted to put the facts out in front of you as you are aware that the local media no longer gives space to our viewpoint,” Mirwaiz further added.