Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was on Friday again restricted from leaving his residence to lead congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid.
For over a year, the Mirwaiz has only occasionally been allowed to lead prayers at Jamia and has also approached the High Court of J&K and Ladakh against what he termed is an “arbitrary” detention. He has also accused authorities of “pressuring” him not to speak up.
So far this year,he has been allowed to lead Friday prayers seven times.
In a statement on Friday, he said, “Every Friday I am put under arbitrary house arrest! Putting pressure on me not to speak up, the ban also aims to weaken the centrality of Muslim institutions of the valley — the Jama Masjid, office of the Mirwaiz, and cause collective grief to Muslims and all those who oppose this authoritarian and sectarian outlook. My house detention case is still pending in court, where I am seeking relief from the Hon’ble High Court, but in such times patience remains our only strength.”
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