Put under house arrest, move aimed to weaken Muslim institutions: Mirwaiz

Srinagar: Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has once again alleged that he is being placed under “arbitrary house arrest” every Friday, calling it a deliberate attempt to silence him and weaken key Muslim institutions in the Valley.

“Every Friday I am put under arbitrary house arrest! Putting pressure on me not to speak up, the ban also aims to weaken the centrality of Muslim institutions of the Valley—the Jama Masjid, the office of the Mirwaiz—and cause collective grief to Muslims and all those who oppose this authoritarian and sectarian outlook,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

The Mirwaiz added that his case against the house detention is still pending before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. “My house detention case is still pending in court, where I am seeking relief from the Hon’ble High Court, but in such times patience remains our only strength,” he said.

Authorities have not officially responded to his latest claims. However, similar detentions in the past have drawn criticism from various civil society groups and human rights organisations.