Srinagar: Speaking at Jama Masjid Srinagar after two weeks of house arrest, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the crimes of self-proclaimed faith healer Aijaz Sheikh, a convicted child abuser, calling for the strictest punishment.
He accused Sheikh of destroying the lives of thousands of children and blamed society’s ignorance and blind faith for enabling such exploitation.
Mirwaiz stressed upon the need for true Islamic education to prevent people from falling prey to superstition and deceit. He also raised concerns over growing social evils, including drugs and online gambling, warning that moral decay was weakening society.
Expressing disappointment over repeated restrictions on prayers at Jamia Masjid, he urged authorities to stop interfering in religious matters, calling the closure of mosques deeply hurtful. With Ramadan approaching, he called for self-reflection and a return to truth and justice.
Mirwaiz said, “We must ask ourselves: Where are we headed as a nation? Our morals and values are eroding—lies, deceit, and selfishness have taken root. The pursuit of personal gain has blinded us, leading us away from the teachings of Islam. Instead of seeking true faith, we have fallen into baseless superstitions, making it easy for frauds and criminals to exploit us.”
“Now the most horrifying reality—Aijaz Sheikh. A man who, for decades, has destroyed the lives of thousands of young children. His crimes are not just his alone; they were allowed to fester because we remained silent. We have become ignorant of our faith, following fake faith healers and superstitions instead of seeking true knowledge. When people lack understanding and blindly believe without questioning, criminals like him take advantage, manipulating and exploiting the weak in the name of faith. This is why true Islamic education is essential. Mirwaiz said, there must be no leniency for such criminals! We demand the severest punishment so that no one dares to commit such crimes again. His actions have not only devastated innocent children but have also brought disgrace and mistrust upon the Mansab of Imamat,” he said.
Beyond this, Mirwaiz said, our society is drowning in drugs, scams, and online gambling. Social evils are creeping in, corrupting our youth and weakening our moral fabric. Mirwaiz said, look at the state of our land—no rain, no water, no snow. Is this not a sign of Allah’s displeasure? When a society allows corruption and injustice to thrive, divine blessings are withheld. With Ramadan approaching, Mirwaiz said, we have a chance to turn back to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and purify ourselves. Let us abandon dishonesty and selfishness and embrace truth and justice.
“It deeply pains us that Shab-e-Baraat prayers were not allowed at Jamia Masjid, and that I was again placed under house arrest. This must stop! Worship is our fundamental right, and any undue interference in our religious affairs is unacceptable and condemnable. Mirwaiz said, let us sincerely repent, seek Allah’s guidance, and pray that His mercy is restored upon us,” Mirwaiz concluded.
