Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Calls Muslim Unity Amid Sectarian and Legal Challenges in IIOJK

As efforts intensify to divide the Muslim community in IIOJK, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is urging unity in the face of political, sectarian, and legal assaults on religious identity.

Senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has emphasized the urgent need for Muslim unity in the face of growing attempts to divide the community along sectarian, political, and social lines. His remarks came during a visit to Budgam to offer condolences on the passing of renowned Islamic scholar Agha Syed Baqir Al-Moosavi.

While meeting with the bereaved family, Mirwaiz expressed sorrow not only for the scholar’s loss but also over the increasing pressures targeting Muslim identity and religious rights in the region. He pointed out that ongoing conspiracies are attempting to fragment the community from within, weakening collective resistance and spiritual cohesion.

He specifically criticized the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, calling it a direct attack on the religious and administrative autonomy of Muslims in the region. According to Mirwaiz, even basic discussions on the issue are being suppressed. The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), a prominent Muslim scholars’ council, was recently denied permission to hold a meeting about the act.

“Despite this, we remain united—from Kashmir Valley to Jammu and Ladakh—in opposition to this unjust and discriminatory law,” he stated. Mirwaiz also pledged full support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, assuring that the Kashmiri leadership would follow its guidance and programs to challenge the amendment.

Turning to the judiciary, he expressed hope that the Indian Supreme Court would defend the religious rights of Muslims and ultimately repeal the Waqf Amendment Act. He stressed that legal recourse must ensure the protection of constitutional freedoms, including the right to manage religious institutions without state interference.

Mirwaiz also shed light on the continued restrictions imposed on him personally. He voiced frustration over being repeatedly barred from offering Friday prayers at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, which remains locked during key religious occasions. These measures, he said, are symbolic of broader efforts to suppress Muslim religious expression in the region.

“I have taken my case to the High Court regarding my prolonged and unlawful house arrest,” he shared. “A hearing is scheduled for this week, and I am hopeful that the judiciary will stand for justice and stop this unwarranted interference in my religious life.”

Through his statements, Mirwaiz reinforced the call for solidarity among Muslims and stressed the importance of collective action in resisting divisive laws and policies aimed at eroding their identity and rights.