Date: September 6th, 2024
Location: Mirwaiz Manzil ,Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Statement of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference after being placed under illegal house arrest by the authorities.
My dear friends
It’s another Friday that I was barred from going to Jama Masjid to offer the sermon and obligatory Friday prayers . It’s a routine since I was released from house detention last September after going to courts . I am allowed freedom of movement for a few weeks and then detained at home at the discretion of the authorities , by placing a vehicle in front of my gate . Without being giving any reason I am simply informed that I can’t move out.
It’s very disconcerting and authoritarian that my freedom and liberty is at their command. As a religious and social figure my activities are brought to a grinding halt causing distress to me and those associated with these activities . In two days it’s 3rd of Rabi Ul Alwal when as per tradition I am to deliver a relevant religious sermon on the occasion of “Khawaja Digar” to be attended by tens of thousands of people after a gap of 5 years due to my house arrest . It does not seem that I will once again be allowed .
There is a Seerat conference and a MMU meeting planned on social issues that we had underlined to work around but rumour has it that I will be detained till end of UT elections for now .
This is a reflection of the negative thinking on the part of the authorities . For the last many decades we have repeatedly been asking for release of thousands of youth , political leaders and activists , journalist and civil society members and now lawyers detained in jails in JK and across India . But instead more and more people are persecuted and detained each day . I have been informed that in view of the UT elections people especially youth are being asked to come to their local police stations for surety bonds . This is harassment.
I have always said that putting thousands and thousands of people in detention and jails or under house arrests , snatching their fundamental right to liberty and freedom , you are not ensuring so called “peace and normalcy “ . Unfortunately you are actually enforcing it by force and intimidating people into silence , which in the long run is unsustainable.
So my suggestion to the dispensation is that if our collective aim is peace and normalcy then resolution of the conflict - political engagement with the aspirations and sentiments of the people of J&K is the way forward not apathy and force. Use of force in fact undermines it .
My dear friends, restrictions and detentions will not deter me for pursuing what I believe in as they haven’t weakened you in your resolve . I wanted to put the facts out in front of you as you are aware that the local media no longer gives space to our viewpoint .
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