SRINAGAR (Kashmir English): Senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has condemned the continued house arrests imposed by the New Delhi-controlled administration and the repeated denial of his right to offer Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid, describing these actions as evidence that the people of Kashmir are forced to live under an authoritarian regime.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a video message, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was again placed under house arrest for the second consecutive week and barred from attending this Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, expressed his deep frustration with the authorities’ continuous violations of basic religious and civil rights.
Kashmiri leader Professor Abdul Ghani
He emphasized, “This Friday was particularly significant for me as my long-time companion, colleague, and dear friend, Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, passed away. It is deeply painful that we were not allowed to attend his funeral. At the very least, offering prayers for him on Friday would have caused no harm. Why are we denied such a basic right?”
Mirwaiz questioned the authorities, asking, “Are they so terrified that they won’t even allow us to mourn the loss of our leaders or offer prayers for them?”
He condemned the IIOJK administration’s actions as utterly reprehensible and an affront to the people’s fundamental rights.
