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

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: September 22, 2023 03:33 PM IST

2 min read

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.

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

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.”

“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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