Worshipers at Jama Masjid in Kashmir demand release of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Jama Masjid in Srinagar demanding immediate release of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq who leads the congregation prayers here and completed four years under house arrest. The female worshipers held a protest inside the premises of Jama Masjid after Friday prayers holding placards demanding immediate release of Mirwaiz. «This pulpit is silent for the last four years.

We feel helpless and orphaned. We request Modi sahib to release Mirwaiz sahib who is our spritual guide,» said a female worshiper. They stated that despite the administration's claims of normalcy in Kashmir Mirwaiz has been kept under house arrest without any justification.

They informed that the administration has again detained his close aides recently. «The administration organized G-20 meeting here. They allowed Muharram procession and Amarnath Yatra is going on peacefully then why isn't Mirwaiz allowed to perform his religious obligations,» asked another female worshiper.

Mirwaiz has been kept under house arrest since August 4 2019, when the BJP led central government abrogated special status of J&K and downgraded the erstwhile state into two union territories of J&K and Ladakh. In the wake of the decision the government had imposed a communication blockade for several weeks, restricted internet for a few months and arrested over 7500 people across J&K inclduing three former chief ministers, Hurriyat leaders, human rights activists, lawyers and businessmen. Some of them inclduing four journalists continue to remain in jails.