BJP is Crushing Religious Freedom in IIOJK

India blocks prayers, silences faith: Kashmir’s Jamia Masjid becomes the latest battleground for BJP’s authoritarian agenda

The BJP-appointed Lieutenant Governor’s administration has once again placed senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest in Srinagar, occupied Kashmir.

This oppressive move aims to prevent the Mirwaiz from delivering sermons at the historic Jamia Masjid or participating in religious and social activities. Such blatant interference exposes India’s systematic denial of basic freedoms.

“For the second consecutive week, I’ve been barred from attending Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid,” the Mirwaiz posted on X. He condemned his detention and the imprisonment of thousands of Kashmiri political prisoners.

The Anjuman Auqaf of the Jamia Masjid decried this action as unjustified and a gross violation of religious freedom. The Mirwaiz was informed of his arrest when preparing for his Friday schedule.

Calling the move “unjustifiable” and “regrettable,” the Anjuman criticized the administration for infringing on the Mirwaiz’s religious duties. This interference, they said, demonstrates the government’s authoritarian mindset.

The LG-led administration’s actions sparked widespread disappointment among worshippers who traveled across the valley to hear the Mirwaiz’s sermon. For them, this was yet another assault on their religious rights.

Preventing a religious leader from fulfilling his duties reflects India’s broader agenda of silencing dissent and suppressing Kashmiri identity. Such actions further alienate the already oppressed Kashmiri population.

The BJP-led government’s oppressive tactics extend beyond the Mirwaiz. Thousands of political prisoners languish in detention under fabricated charges, all victims of the same authoritarian strategy.

The administration’s targeting of religious spaces and leaders is a calculated attempt to crush resistance. By silencing the Mirwaiz, they aim to weaken the moral and spiritual backbone of Kashmir’s resistance movement.

The Anjuman Auqaf reiterated that such oppressive measures are unacceptable. The global community must take note of India’s blatant disregard for religious freedom and fundamental human rights in occupied Kashmir.

This latest move underscores the Modi government’s complete intolerance for dissent and its willingness to trample religious liberties to maintain control. The world cannot remain indifferent to this ongoing repression.

The house arrest of the Mirwaiz is more than just a personal restriction—it symbolizes India’s systematic assault on Kashmiri identity and freedom. Such tyranny demands international accountability.