Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said authorities once again denied him permission to go to Srinagar’s Jama Masjid, expressing sadness over being unable to lead the faithful in a collective dua for rain and snow during the ongoing dry winter.
Last week on Friday, January 2, Mirwaiz had shared a similar statement saying he was placed under house arrest for the first Friday of the year, preventing him from addressing prayers at Jama Masjid, and was instead forced to communicate through social media.In the previous statement posted on X, Mirwaiz said the beginning of the new year comes with the “painful memories” of 2025, which he described as a period marked by tragedy and uncertainty. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, he said the incident, though widely condemned in the Valley, led to anxiety among Kashmiris amid targeted actions and demolition of homes. He also cited the India–Pakistan military escalation last year as a reminder of the region’s fragile peace.
Despite unilateral constitutional changes in 2019, Mirwaiz said the Kashmir conflict continues to leave the region unsettled.
“Wars are paused, not ended, and dialogue finds no takers,” he said, adding that the trust deficit between Kashmiris and New Delhi has widened. He alleged that enforced silence is projected as consent, while issues remain unaddressed.
Mirwaiz had also criticised the banning of the Awami Action Committee and Ittihadul Muslimeen, calling it the closure of the remaining political and civic space. He said dissent is increasingly criminalised and labelled “anti-national,” while access to public platforms, including local media and Jama Masjid, remains curtailed.
“With Hurriyat constituents banned, all offices sealed and institutions closed, leaders and activists either in jails or under constant surveillance, social media remains the only platform that gives some voice and opportunity to connect with people and the outside world,” said a statement Mirwaiz shared on social media.
He added, “Let me make it clear, my beliefs and convictions have not changed — not even by a comma.”
Stating that he was under house arrest for fourteen Fridays last year, Mirwaiz said such restrictions have become routine and suffocating for society at large. He clarified that removing the Hurriyat title from his social media profile was a legal necessity to avoid complete silencing and not a change in belief.
“My convictions have not changed — not even by a comma,” he said, reiterating his commitment to peace, dialogue and reconciliation.
He stated dialogue based on “insaniyat aur jamhooriyat,” as articulated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, remains the only path to lasting peace in Kashmir.
