Srinagar, June 20 (KNO): Mirwazi Umar Farooq on Friday expressed grave concern over Middle East escalation, especially the conflict between Iran and Israel and urged for a peaceful dialogue between the two nations.
Addressing a Friday congregation at Jama Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), also said the humanitarian situation in Gaza cannot be expressed in words anymore.
"Just yesterday, 92 people including children were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, as desperate Palestinians seek food amid the ongoing hunger crisis. Each day, starving Palestinians gather to receive food in aid and even there they are bombed and killed. What can be more horrifying and inhuman," he said.
He said to make matters worse, so far hundreds of Iranian civilians have also been killed and thousands injured as Israel extends its aggression to Iran. "And now the further disturbing news that the US may join in striking Iran. All this is very painful for the people of Kashmir who share religious and cultural ties with Iran and the Middle East, besides witnessing the breakdown of global order".
The Mirwaiz added "in such times, prayers for the victims and appeals is all we can do. So we appeal to President Trump not to strike Iran and further escalate the situation, pushing the region onto the path of death, destruction and revenge. Concerns on all sides can easily be addressed through peaceful engagement than through military might, which only complicates matters and creates humanitarian crisis as we are witnessing in Gaza".
He also said today is the 61st foundation day of Awami Action Committee, a socio-political organisation formed by Shaheed-e-Millat, recently banned by Centre.
"Addressing the conflict and concerns through dialogue as a means of resolution, and holding rulers to account for better governance was its raison d'être. It may be banned by authorities but we continue to believe in the principles it was formed on, and feel that today more than ever, when we are witnessing a situation that some analysts believe could lead to World War 3 and annihilation of the world, nations need to talk to one another and restore trust so that conflicts and concerns can be addressed and resolved peacefully and sincerely," he said.
He further said, "Our own conflict has taken a huge toll on lives of people and their families. Reports of Shabir Shah Sahab's serious health condition in Tihar Jail, and denial of access to his family members to talk to him on phone for the past two years, or care for him when he is facing such a medical emergency and is in dire need of a surgery, is very unfortunate and disturbing. I spoke to his wife yesterday who told me that the family's bail plea on his grave medical condition too has been rejected and she does not know how to help him".
The Mirwaiz said same is the case with most other political prisoners, who due to prolonged incarceration and subhuman jail conditions are suffering from grave health issues. "The prolonged imprisonment, devoid of due legal process, has made the process their punishment. It is against the very idea that the Indian legal system claims to uphold - the basic human rights of the prisoners, violating the very idea of human dignity, due process and justice".
He also appealed to the Cente and the concerned authorities not to make the process the punishment for the leadership and all other Kashmiri political prisoners, and immediately intervene to ensure that due medical care is extended to Shah Sahab, and his family is allowed access to be with him when he needs them the most. "I also appeal to the elected government of J&K to raise this serious issue and provide every assistance that they can in this matter".—(KNO)