Srinagar, Nov 06 (KNO): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remained under house detention for nearly a week on Friday, barring him from delivering the Friday sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid for the second consecutive week.
In a post on social media platform X, expressing disappointment over the continued restrictions, Mirwaiz, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said, “My house detention continues unabated for the past week with police deployment and barricades in place. Unfortunate that I will not be able to deliver the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid Srinagar to the faithful today. Arbitrary and authoritarian measures to curtail freedom of movement and speech only betray the official narrative of ‘Normalcy’ in Kashmir.”
The continued restrictions follow Mirwaiz’s address at Jama Masjid last Friday, in which he referred to the recently published International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting concerns over political prisoners, civil liberties and the need for meaningful political engagement and reconciliation.
Since then, Mirwaiz has remained confined to his residence, preventing him from fulfilling his religious responsibilities, including addressing scheduled religious gatherings and leading the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid.—(KNO)