NewsEye Desk
Srinagar, 18 APR: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir has once again raised alarm over what he calls a systematic effort to silence dissent and weaken key religious institutions in the Valley.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Mirwaiz said, “Every Friday I am put under arbitrary house arrest! Putting pressure on me not to speak up, the ban also aims to weaken the centrality of Muslim institutions of the valley—the Jama Masjid, office of the Mirwaiz—and cause collective grief to Muslims and all those who oppose this authoritarian and sectarian outlook.”
The Hurriyat leader wrote that despite his case being sub judice in the High Court, the restrictions on his movement continue unabated. “My house detention case is still pending in court, where I am seeking relief from the Hon’ble High Court, but in such times, patience remains our only strength,” he added.
The administration has not officially responded to the latest claims, but security agencies have previously cited “law and order concerns” to justify restrictions on separatist leaders.
The Jama Masjid in Srinagar, historically a central hub for both religious and political discourse, has witnessed repeated closures and surveillance, particularly since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
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