Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Apr 18: Senior religious leader and Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, claimed on Friday that he has once again been placed under house arrest, preventing him from delivering the traditional Friday sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid.
In a statement posted on X, Mirwaiz expressed frustration over what he termed as “arbitrary” restrictions imposed on him every Friday. “The repeated house arrests are meant to silence me, to stop me from speaking out,” he wrote. “It’s not just about me — this pressure tactic is designed to erode the influence of Muslim institutions in the Valley, including the Jama Masjid and the office of the Mirwaiz. It causes a sense of collective anguish among the people who oppose this authoritarian and sectarian approach.”
The cleric also mentioned that his legal challenge against the repeated detentions is still pending before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. “In these times, patience remains our only strength,” he added.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has long been a prominent religious and political figure in Kashmir, heading not only the Hurriyat Conference but also the Anjuman-e-Nusratul Islam — an organization that runs several educational institutions in the region, including the well-known Islamia High School in Srinagar’s Rajouri Kadal.
His fresh claims come on the heels of the central government’s decision to ban the Awami Action Committee (AAC) — the organization he leads — for a period of five years. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the move in March, accusing the AAC of promoting violence and acting against national interests.
The AAC, originally founded in 1963 by Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq during the Holy Relic agitation, was later headed by his son, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, following his assassination in 1990. The MHA's statement accused the group of inciting youth towards militancy and undermining state security.
Meanwhile, the separatist movement in Kashmir has seen significant changes. Over the past few years, several factions of the Hurriyat Conference — nearly a dozen — have distanced themselves from separatist politics and expressed renewed faith in India’s Constitution.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently declared that “separatism is now history in Kashmir.” He credited the Modi government's policies for restoring unity and normalcy in the region, describing the shift as a major milestone in the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat — One India, Great India.