According to The Hindu, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat and the most prominent religious leader in Kashmir, plans to give a sermon on Friday. This would be his first since the Indian government August 2019 nullified Article 370 of the Indian constitution.
The Indian government’s claims that Mirwaiz has never been detained since the military action began on August 5, 2019, were rebutted by Mirwaiz in a telephone chat with the paper.
It was emphasized to him that, according to the government, he was free to go wherever he pleased. If so, he’d want to hear the sermon on Friday.
I miss preaching in the Jamia Masjid (in Srinagar) every Friday, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. The opportunity to do so excites me enormously,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stated.
When I am finally free, one of my top priorities is to make new friends and learn from them. I’m eager to mingle with my fellow professionals and party dudes. My stance on politics has not changed and never will.
“Stop the repression of the people of J&K, work out the differences among the parties involved, and give real peace a chance in the Sub-continent.”
The interviewer brought up the fact that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir has stated on multiple occasions that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is a “free man” who has never been detained since August of this year. Was he truly a “free man”? He was asked by the Hindu.
“Thank goodness, I no longer need to rely on an outside source to get around my own home. If I was truly a “free man,” then why have I been barred from leading Friday prayers and preaching at Jamia Masjid for the past three years?
Since August 4, 2019, I have been incarcerated in my home against my will. Both sides of my house have police cars and officers stationed near the gates. Upon verification by the police at the entrance, only immediate family and a small number of office personnel are allowed inside.
This is not a secret; it will be visible to everyone. There have been no breaks in the three years of house arrest thus far. Mirwaiz expressed shock that the head of state of the contentious state would publicly lie about the situation.
Facts were manipulated and altered to fit the narrative. If the goal was to smear my reputation, I don’t think they were successful. The truth always comes out on top in the end.
The previous year, he lost his grandma, who had been living with him. He presided over her funeral prayers on his lawn because he was forbidden by officials from accompanying other mourners to the cemetery.
Her body was leaving the house, and I was left to stand there in tears. Three years in prison has been quite an adventure. I couldn’t sleep from worrying about other people, what they were going through, and what might happen to them.
“But when the authorities’ plan began to become more and more apparent over time, it became clear what they were aiming for. This is going to be a long fight, so I’m taking precautions and trying to be calm.
In addition, I understood that the people of Kashmir, who have been oppressed for millennia and have been through decades of conflict, had developed a strong will and survival instinct that will enable them to persevere despite external attempts to bring about their downfall. Now is the time for us to hunker down, show resolve, and fortify our character.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
