DFP Condemns Crackdown on Islamic Literature and Religious Freedom in IIOJK

The ongoing crackdown on Islamic literature and religious texts in IIOJK by Indian authorities has sparked fierce condemnation from the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), which describes the move as an alarming attack on religious freedom.

The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has strongly condemned the Indian police’s ongoing crackdown on Islamic literature and religious texts in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The DFP has termed this action a “direct assault on religious freedom” in the region.

In a statement issued from Srinagar, DFP spokesman Advocate Arshad Iqbal expressed deep concern about the increasing attempts to restrict religious expression and cultural heritage in the region. He stated that these actions are a manifestation of the Hindutva mindset, which is actively working to erase the Muslim identity, culture, and history of IIOJK.

Iqbal further emphasized that such actions would not be successful in silencing Kashmiris’ beliefs or disconnecting them from their cultural roots. Despite these oppressive efforts, he stressed that the spirit of the people would remain intact and that Kashmiris would continue to assert their rights to religious and cultural freedom.

In addition to condemning the crackdown on literature, the DFP spokesman also expressed outrage over the termination of Kashmiri employees from their jobs. Iqbal called this an effort to economically suppress the people of Kashmir, further highlighting the ongoing attempts to marginalize them in various aspects of life.

The DFP has been vocal about the deteriorating political and human rights situation in the region, particularly after the Indian government’s controversial decision to revoke Articles 370 and 35A in 2019. According to Iqbal, this decision has severely undermined the fundamental rights of the people, including their religious freedoms. The termination of Kashmiri workers and the banning of religious literature are just a few examples of how the region’s autonomy and rights have been systematically eroded.

Iqbal pointed to a recent interview with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent religious and political leader, as evidence of the increasingly dire situation in IIOJK. In his interview, Farooq discussed the alarming decline in religious freedom and the growing sense of fear among the region’s Muslim population. Iqbal echoed these concerns, underscoring how the ongoing actions by Indian authorities continue to violate the fundamental rights of Kashmiris.

The DFP’s statement sheds light on the ongoing political repression in the region, with particular emphasis on the crackdown on religious texts and the economic strangulation of the Kashmiri people. The party’s leadership has vowed to continue fighting for the restoration of religious and cultural freedoms, despite the increasingly repressive environment.