Srinagar, Jan 30 (KNO): Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday voiced deep concern over the growing incidents of attacks and harassment of Kashmiris outside J&K and termed the intrusive profiling of mosques in the Valley as alarming, urging immediate intervention by authorities.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said while addressing the Friday Congregation congregation at Jama Masjid today Mirwaiz-e- Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq expressed deep anguish and concern over the brutal assault using iron rods on 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl vendor Tabish and his brother Danish in Uttarakhand’s Vikas Nagar area, causing grievous injuries to them.
He said, Mirwaiz said that the incident reflects the disturbing pattern of communal profiling and hostility faced by ordinary Kashmiris outside Jammu & Kashmir. similar incidents of harassment and attacks on Kashmiri traders, labourers and students have recently been reported from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and other parts of the country.
“Mirwaiz said that thousands of Kashmiris travel to different states during winter months to earn an honest livelihood, and such targeting of vulnerable people must stop immediately. He said that after such incidents the safety risk to Kashmiri students, traders, professionals and others studying and working in various parts of India increases causing anxiety and fear among them and their families.”
The spokesperson said, “Mirwaiz urged the authorities to take this matter seriously and ensure the safety of Kashmiri’s outside.”
He added, Regarding the police profiling exercise in the Valley seeking extensive and intrusive information about mosques, their management committees, imams, and those associated with places of worship, Mirwaiz said it is a very disconcerting matter and all members of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) expressing their serious concern have asked the authorities to stop it.
“Mirwaiz informed that during his recent visit to Delhi on the demise of Pandith Bhushan Bazaz he met prominent Muslim leaders and ulema, including Maulana Arshad Madani and Maulana Mahmood Madani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, and apprised them of the situation. They too expressed their utmost disapproval and concern over the issue and its implications,” he said.
Mirwaiz also informed that MMU will soon convene a meeting of its constituent members and senior religious leadership to deliberate on the matter, and a collective course of action that can be taken if this exercise is not stopped, the statement reads—(KNO)