Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has claimed he was placed under house arrest on Friday and prevented from attending the congregational prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid. The incident has sparked concerns over continued restrictions on religious freedom in the region.
According to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, he was scheduled to deliver the customary Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area, as is his weekly tradition. However, authorities allegedly did not permit him to leave his residence in the Nigeen locality of Srinagar.
“Yet again, this Friday put under house arrest and barred from offering prayers at Jama Masjid. It is both heartbreaking and outrageous that authorities continue to trample on my basic religious rights at their will,” he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Religious Sentiments and Restrictions
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has repeatedly raised concerns about restrictions imposed on him, especially in relation to his religious duties as the region’s chief cleric. His recurring house arrests have drawn criticism from religious and civil society groups, who argue that such actions infringe on fundamental rights.
The incident also coincided with the release of a resolution by the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU), a coalition of various Islamic organizations in Jammu and Kashmir. The MMU expressed strong reservations about the recently introduced Waqf Amendment Act.
Concerns Over Waqf Amendment Act
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also shared the MMU’s resolution, which called into question several provisions of the amended Waqf legislation. The resolution stated that the changes were being perceived by the Muslim community as undermining the religious and traditional autonomy of Waqf institutions in India.
“Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama Jammu & Kashmir expresses its concern regarding several provisions of the new law, which are being widely viewed by the Muslim community as affecting the established and religious character of the Waqf institution in India,” the resolution noted.
While the authorities have yet to comment on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s claims or the MMU’s concerns, the repeated imposition of house arrest and restrictions on religious leaders continues to draw attention, both domestically and internationally.
