Srinagar ~ Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir, on Friday said he was prevented once again from delivering the traditional Friday sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid after being placed under house arrest, forcing him to address people through social media instead.
Calling the confinement “deeply suffocating”, Mirwaiz said the denial of access to the pulpit reflected a broader silencing of Kashmiri society. “I meet you on the first Friday of the year, not in Jama Masjid, as the Mirwaiz should, but on social media,” he said, adding that arbitrary house arrests had become a recurring feature of his life, with 14 Fridays spent under detention last year alone.
Reflecting on 2025, Mirwaiz described it as a year marked by tragedy, fear and uncertainty. He referred to the Pahalgam attack, which he said was unanimously condemned in the Valley but followed by anxiety, targeting of people and demolition of homes. He also cited another India–Pakistan war as a reminder of the fragility of peace in the region and the year-end blast in New Delhi that claimed several lives.
Despite unilateral changes made in August 2019, Mirwaiz said the Kashmir conflict remained unresolved, leaving the region in a perpetual state of instability. “Wars are paused, not ended, and dialogue finds no takers,” he said, adding that Kashmiris continue to face suspicion and hostility in parts of India.
He alleged that the trust deficit between Kashmiris and New Delhi had widened, with enforced silence being portrayed as acceptance. “Wounds remain open, problems unaddressed, and even an elected UT government complains of being powerless,” he said, warning of an “existential crisis” driven by fears of demographic change following the abrogation of constitutional guarantees and changes in laws and rules.
Mirwaiz also spoke against the banning of the Awami Action Committee and Ittihadul Muslimeen, both constituents of the Hurriyat Conference, describing them as socio-political institutions that had advocated peace and dialogue. He said dissenting voices were increasingly criminalised and branded “anti-national”, while public space and media platforms for expressing people’s views had virtually disappeared.
Explaining changes to his social media profile, Mirwaiz said he was compelled to do so after Hurriyat constituents were banned under the UAPA, leaving social media as the only remaining channel of communication. “Let me make it clear, my beliefs and convictions have not changed — not even by a comma,” he said, rejecting allegations of compromise.
Tracing his role to the legacy of his father, who was assassinated 35 years ago, Mirwaiz said his commitments to the people of Kashmir were non-negotiable. He said he had consistently stood for the rights of Kashmiris, highlighted the plight of jailed youth and leaders, and supported the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland.
Reiterating his long-held position, Mirwaiz said he continued to see his role as a bridge for peace, brotherhood and reconciliation. Recalling past engagements with former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, he said dialogue remained the only viable path forward.
“Is real peace possible? Yes,” he said. “Kashmiris are natural optimists. When there is sincere willingness to engage in the spirit of ‘insaniyat aur jamhooriyat’, peace gets the best chance.”
Newsy intro:
Placed under house arrest for the first Friday of 2026, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed people through social media, lamenting shrinking democratic space in Jammu and Kashmir, recalling the turmoil of 2025, and reiterating his commitment to dialogue, peace and the aspirations of Kashmiris.
