Srinagar: After a period of over four years under house arrest, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent Kashmiri leader and a key figure in the Hurriyat movement, has been released by the Indian government. This release comes in the wake of the government’s decision to revoke the constitutional autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, which had led to the detention of numerous political leaders and thousands of residents in the region.
While most of the detainees were eventually set free, Mirwaiz had remained confined to his residence located across the street from his Jama Masjid in Srinagar. A significant gathering of worshipers assembled to witness his return to leading Friday prayers, marking the first time in 218 weeks.
Recently, a court had requested clarification from Indian authorities regarding Mirwaiz’s detention. Subsequently, the Occupied Kashmir Police communicated that the authorities had opted to release him.
Addressing the congregation on Friday, Mirwaiz expressed the profound pain of being separated from his people during his detention, likening it to the anguish he felt after the passing of his father. He criticized the constitutional changes implemented in Jammu and Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government as “unacceptable,” asserting that the Kashmiri sentiment remains strong and resilient.