Srinagar, March 6 – Senior religious leader and chief cleric of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said on Friday that authorities have placed him under house arrest as restrictions continued across the Valley.
Mirwaiz Umar, in a post on X, stated, "Restrictions in the Valley continue and have been intensified on a Friday during the holy month of Ramadan. I have also been placed under house arrest. During these greatly blessed days, when thousands come to the mosques seeking blessings and guidance, the pulpit of Jama Masjid is silent, and all streets and alleys leading to the mosque are blocked. This is very sad and unfortunate."
He denounced the US-Israel action against Iran, saying, "However, the sadness felt in Kashmir today is not only due to these restrictions. Muslims across the world are deeply aggrieved and anxious about the Israeli and American aggression in the region. Israel and America want to reshape the region to suit their interests, and they are willing to go to any length, as evidenced by the brutal killing of the head of a country, Ayatollah Khamenei, and the attack on the sovereign nation of Iran, which has plunged the entire region into a crisis and grief."
He said that across Jammu and Kashmir, from the Valley to Jammu, Ladakh and Kargil, people have expressed their condemnation of this aggression and have expressed solidarity in one voice, transcending divisions as one ummah.
"The ummah cannot be divided in moments like this. When injustice is inflicted upon one part, the entire body feels the pain. As Mirwaiz, I stand in heartfelt solidarity with the people of Iran, the Palestinians, and those who are bearing the brunt of this aggression, both within the region and beyond. All human lives are precious, and wars and violence are man-made catastrophes that cause the loss of precious lives. May Allah protect all, grant patience to those who mourn, and bring swift justice to the oppressors and liberate the oppressed," he further stated in his X post.
Meanwhile, restrictions continued in Kashmir, and congregational Friday prayers were held in all districts, towns, and villages.
No untoward incidents have been reported from anywhere in the Valley. Authorities have said that a decision on relaxing the restrictions will be taken later in the day, taking into account the overall law and order situation.