Mirwaiz Under House Arrest, Prevented from Attending Uncle’s Funeral

“Is it now a crime to offer condolences or attend funeral prayers in Kashmir?” he questioned in a video statement.

Srinagar: Authorities in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have once again placed senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest, preventing him from attending the funeral prayers of his uncle, Mirwaiz Muhammad Ahmad Shah. Shah, a respected Kashmiri leader, passed away in Islamabad, Pakistan, as reported by Kashmir Media Service.

In a video statement from Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned his confinement, which barred him from joining the funeral prayers held in absentia for his uncle. He voiced his frustration, highlighting that restrictions on his movements deprive him and other Kashmiris of basic religious and social freedoms, such as paying respects and participating in mourning rituals. “Is it now a crime to offer condolences or attend funeral prayers in Kashmir?” he questioned, expressing disappointment with the region’s administration.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent religious and political figure in Kashmir, has faced repeated house arrests, limiting his ability to engage with the Kashmiri community. His recent confinement, he stressed, reflects a broader trend by authorities to curb the religious and political rights of Kashmiris under occupation.

The incident has drawn attention to the restrictions on leaders in the region, raising questions about freedom of movement and expression in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq’s words underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Kashmiris in exercising their fundamental rights amidst heightened security and political control in the region.