Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemns continued house detention & rising pre-election intimidation in J&K

SRINAGAR, Sep 13 (SABAH): Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who continues to be under undeclared and arbitrary house detention since September 2nd, strongly condemned this undemocratic and illegal measure which prevents him from going to Jamia Masjid to deliver the Friday sermon  as he was again barred from going there on Friday, and from all his other public engagements.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said being the patron of Mutaheda Majlis-E-Ulema (MMU), he was not allowed to attend its important meeting on Thursday with regard to discussing the very serious issue of the Amendment to the Muslim Waqf Act with the member religious leaders and scholars, nor was he allowed to attend a media session with him on the situation in J&K by a reputed National media channel. At the same event the chief state functionary when asked about his detention, as always, refuted it outrightly.
 Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said it’s unfortunate that repeatedly I am being targeted and detained. It belies the claims of “normalcy “.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said as assembly elections are nearing despite the ECIs guidelines that preventive detention and asking people to report to police stations should be avoided, tens of dozens of people from across towns and villages and Srinagar city are being detained, and people especially political workers and youth are being harassed and asked to report to police stations seeking surety bonds from them. Long Lists of people in each Thana area to be detained in view of elections have been prepared. There is fear among those being detained and those whose names are in these lists, that once arrested they will be booked under the draconian PSA and UAPA. Mirwaiz appealed to the authorities to desist from such actions that create fear and intimidate people and stop their persecution in this manner.

Mirwaiz said that with regard to the wakf amendment issue, the Mutaheda Majlis-E-Ulema (MMU) has written a detailed letter to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) illustrating our deep concerns and apprehension, and requesting it to reject the amendments and have sought time for a meeting of MMU delegates with the JPC. People should stay alert to the issue as it concerns our very religious existence and institutions and should sign on the link attached (https://waqf1.pages.dev/) to register their disapproval.

Mirwaiz also paid tributes to the communist leader Sitaram Yechury who passed away in Delhi on Thursday. Expressing sorrow at his demise, Mirwaiz said Yechury sahab was an advocate of human and political rights of the people of JK and it was always a pleasure to meet and hear him.