Dressed in his white and gold ceremonial robes, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq returned to Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid for the first time since August 2019, after having spent more than four years detained at his home. Heartbroken as he ascended the mosque pulpit to begin his sermon, the Hurriyat president said he would continue to seek “a peaceful resolution” of people’s problems, despite paying the price for it.
Referring to the Prime Minister Narendra ModiRussia’s words in the context of the crisisUkraine war, Mirwaiz added that he agreed with the prime minister that this was not an era of war.
Umar Farooq was welcomed by an emotional crowd of hundreds as he returned to lead prayers after 212 weeks, at Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta, with chants of “Marhaba, Mirwaiz”. People had begun to arrive in droves as news of Mirwaiz’s release spread, with dozens of security officers keeping watch.
“We have been called separatists, anti-nationals and disturbers of peace. However, we have no personal benefit to gain from this, I had no personal ambition here. We only represent the interests and aspirations of the people of jammu and Kashmir. “We seek a peaceful resolution to their problems, but on their (the people’s) terms,” he said.
He added: “We have always believed in and participated in efforts that seek resolution through an alternative to violent means, which is dialogue and reconciliation, and we have suffered personally by following this path.”
The Mirwaiz also called for the return of “our Pandit brothers” to Kashmir. “We believe in peaceful coexistence between communities and nations; between the strong and the weak, between the majority and the minority. “We have always advocated the return of Kashmiri Pandits and have disapproved of turning this human issue into a political issue.”
For some it may be a territorial issue, “but for us it has always been a human issue,” said Umar Farooq, pointing out that one part of J&K is in India, another in Pakistan and the third in China. “All this constitutes Jammu and Kashmir. It is a reality that the issue needs to be resolved, something that the international community also supports.”
Mirwaiz also called for rethinking a “harsh approach” to the problems. “It leads to human rights violations. Dozens of our leaders – men and women – languish in prisons for years, thousands of young men and boys, journalists, activists and human rights lawyers suffer in prison. They must be released as soon as possible. Their health and their families are suffering.”
He said that after his father’s murder, the last few years had been the most difficult period for him. “I am aware that the time after August 5, 2019 has not been easy. Articles 370 and 35A were repealed, J&K was stripped of its statehood and divided into Union Territories. Ladakh was separated from J&K and against the wishes of the people and through a series of unilateral decisions, the people of J&K were left weak and powerless,” Mirwaiz said.
Kashmiri political parties welcomed the release of Umar Farooq from house arrest and hoped that he would be allowed to remain free.
“He shouldn’t have been detained for so long. Most of us who were released had to seek the intervention of the courts. This time too, after Mirwaiz sahab approached the High Court seeking his release, the government was forced to release him,” said National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, adding that he hoped Mirwaiz would be allowed to “move freely, interact with people and resume their social/religious responsibilities.”
Last month, after completing four years since he was placed under house arrest before the repeal of Article 370, Umar Farooq had sent a legal notice to the government, seeking his release and warning that he would challenge it in court if he failed to arrive. to a positive response. On September 15, the court sought a reply from the J&K administration on the status of the detention.
This was a year after J&K Lt. Governor sinha hands He stated that Mirwaiz was not under house arrest and was free to move anywhere.
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Upon his release after four years, Mirwaiz said The Indian Express: “It was really a feeling of relief and joy to leave home. Personal freedom is a blessing.”
Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP Chairman Mufti Mehbooba He said the government is “correcting its mistakes” by releasing Mirwaiz, “Mirwaiz sahab is a highly respected religious leader and keeping him detained for four years goes against humanity and the democratic system of this country.”
People’s Conference president Sajad Lone said the Mirwaiz symbolizes a tradition “that is primarily religious in nature but also has strong social connotations.” “This tradition has been routinely interrupted over the past three decades by all governments.”
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