Mirwaiz Umar Farooq released from house arrest after 4 years, leads Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid

Farooq was put under house detention on August 4, 2019 — a day before the central government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave Jammu and Kashmir’s special status

mirwaiz umar farooq released house arrest jammu kashmir

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was put under house arrest at his Nigeen residence on August 5, 2019 -- the day the BJP-led Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union territories. (Express file photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

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Four years after he was detained in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was released from house arrest. Farooq led the Friday congretational prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

The development comes after Farooq moved Jammu and Kashmir High Court on September 15, seeking release from detention.

After over four years of house detention, authorities have decided to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and allow him to head to Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers. This comes days after he moved J&K High Court seeking release from detention. @IndianExpress

— Naveed Iqbal (@NaveedIqbal) September 22, 2023

The court had asked the government to file a reply with regard to his detention within four weeks.

#WATCH | Mirwaiz Umar Farooq leads Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid pic.twitter.com/min4gUhCW6

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah ‘welcomed’ the step, adding that he hoped the Jammu and Kashmir administration will “allow him (Farooq) to move freely, interact with people and resume his social/religious responsibilities.”

VIDEO | Hurriyat Conference chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq turned emotional after being released from house arrest after four years, earlier today. He broke into tears while delivering the Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/A4N5TScDbx

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2023

“Today, eyes in Kashmir will be on the Mirwaiz as he delivers his first Friday sermon in Jamia Masjid after 2019,” Abdullah added.

Farooq was put under house detention on August 4, 2019 — a day before the central government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and downgraded the state into two union territories.

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