Expresses solidarity with Turkey, Syria
Srinagar: Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir has expressed serious concern over the fact that its founder and patron Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, continues to be under “illegal and arbitrary” detention since August 4, 2019, and that he completed three and a half years of house detention on February 5, 2023.
In a statement, the MMU said that apart from the prolonged detention of Mirwaiz, the mimbar-o-mihrab (pulpit) of the historic Central Jama Masjid Srinagar have been rendered silent for the last three and a half years which otherwise would reverberate with the sermons of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir. “However, such an authoritarian step of the administration to keep the valley’s top religious leader under continued detention amounts to a grave violation of religious and human rights. This also hurts the sentiments and feelings of the people and devotees, against which the public resentment and anxiety is increasing with each passing day,” it said.
The MMU members further said, “It is a matter of concern for the people, scholars, imams, khateebs, mashaaikhs and intellectuals as well as all sections of society that the top religious leader of Kashmir is being barred from performing his religious duties and obligations and complete restrictions are being imposed on his peaceful activities.”
The MMU urged the authorities, especially Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, to ensure the unconditional release of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir in view of the arrival of the holy month of Rajab especially Shab e Baraat so that he discharges his centuries-old official duties like his illustrious predecessors and also fulfill his obligations towards the people.
In this regard, a consultative meeting will be called soon, the MMU announced. It also called for the release of other religious scholars who are arrested under PSA and lodged in different jails
Meanwhile, the Majlis-e-Ulema on behalf of the people of Jammu & Kashmir expressed deep condolence and sympathy with Turkiye and Syria as the countries were hit by catastrophic earthquakes resulting in deaths of thousands and injuries to innumerable people besides destruction of properties worth billions. It prayed for speedy recovery of the injured people.
The MMU announced that on Friday, February 10, special prayer meetings will be held in all major mosques, shrines, imambarahs and the Central Jama Masjid Srinagar for the people who died in the earthquake and with the affected people during which solidarity will also be expressed with the people of these two countries.