Put under house arrest for third Friday in row, says Mirwaiz

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday claimed that he was put under house arrest and prevented from offering congregational prayers at the Jama Masjid for the third consecutive week.

Mirwaiz, who is the chief cleric of Kashmir, alleged that he was barred from offering prayers at the Jama Masjid in the city's Nowhatta locality.

There was no word from the police on his allegation. “Despite the bone chilling cold, thousands of faithful-the elderly women, physically challenged, children, people from all over the Valley gather, waiting expectantly with a lot of affection and devotion to listen to the word of God at the Grand Mosque,” Mirwaiz wrote on X.

He said that such actions bring "disappointment" for the people.

“What hurt and disappointment it brings to them all when those in power assert brute force and detain me, totally impervious and heartless to the grief they cause to them, to me and to the Muslims of the Valley,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anjuman Auqaf-- the management committee of Jamia Masjid – has denounced the continuous house detention of Umar Farooq by the authorities. “The administration imposes arbitrary and unjustified restrictions on the religious functioning of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir,” said a statement.

“Such measures amount to interference in religious affairs of Muslims which is highly condemnable,” it added.