Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the prominent Hurriyat Conference Chairperson, has once again voiced his frustration, stating he was denied permission to attend Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid for the second consecutive week. This ongoing restriction comes after he claims to have been placed under house arrest following the passing of former Hurriyat chief Abdul Gani Bhat.
Expressing his dismay on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the Mirwaiz highlighted the arbitrary nature of these restrictions:
For the second consecutive Friday, I have been denied permission to go to Jama Masjid. At will, the authorities curb our basic rights. Heavens would not have fallen if we had been allowed to participate in the janazah of Prof. Bhat Sahib, and offer duas for the departed soul. Are…
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) September 19, 2025
The Mirwaiz had previously announced his house arrest began on Wednesday night (September 17), coinciding with the demise of Professor Abdul Gani Bhat. He questioned the authorities’ actions, remarking, “Heavens would not have fallen if we had been allowed to participate in the ‘janazah’ of Prof. Bhat Sahib, and offer ‘duas’ for the departed soul. Are the authorities so afraid of the dead!”
He further condemned the repeated confinement, emphasizing that being “locked up in my home week after week, barred from entering the historic Jama Masjid, is nothing but proof that we are living under an authoritarian setup.” The Hurriyat leader stressed that such denial of fundamental rights – including honoring a deceased leader, paying respects, and praying in mosques – is “highly condemnable.” He concluded with a powerful statement: “Brute power cannot silence faith and the yearning for dignity and justice.”