Srinagar, March 18 – Chief Kashmiri cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Wednesday condemned the targeted killing of Iranian National Security Council Secretary, Ali Larijani, by the "rogue state of Israel."
"Condemn the targeted killing of Secretary Ali Larijani by the rogue state of Israel! The resilience of the Iranian people and their leadership reflects the spirit of a true Muslim nation, courageous, steadfast, and resolute in their faith in Allah. Such people deserve to lead," Mirwaiz said in a post on X.
"While other leaders of the Muslim world have exposed themselves as proxies, lacking courage and conviction," he added.
Mirwaiz also stated that authorities had disallowed his participation in a sermon in Srinagar on Wednesday.
"Meanwhile, the fearful rulers of this police state have, once again, kept me away from the house of God in the holy month of Ramzan, as I was scheduled to deliver a sermon at Gol Masjid in Karan Nagar today. What a disgrace!"
Authorities are taking no chances with the law and order situation in Kashmir in the aftermath of widespread anti-US and anti-Israel protests that erupted spontaneously in the Valley on March 1 after the news of the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reached here.
Firm handling of the situation by the police and the security forces ensured that there was no casualty or damage to public property during these protests.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had met civil society members from religious, political, social, and business communities in Srinagar, appealing for disciplined and dignified observance of grief, and got a positive response from all sections of the society during the interaction.
