ISLAMABAD
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has voiced grave alarm over what he described as systematic killings of innocent youth in fake encounters and mass arrests under oppressive laws in IIOJK, pressing for an immediate cessation and accountability.
According to Kashmir Media Service, while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq drew attention to the shocking killing of Kashmiri youth Rashid Ahmad Mughal in a staged encounter in the Arhama area of Ganderbal district.
He described the incident as deeply distressing and a matter of grave concern.
Mirwaiz noted that the family of the martyred youth stated he was a part-time computer operator with no links to militancy, yet he was forcibly taken and killed in cold blood.
He emphasized the innocence of the victim and condemned the arbitrary targeting of civilians.
He added that the grieving family is demanding justice through an impartial investigation, but expressed skepticism, saying, “We can only hope that justice is done, though past experiences do not inspire confidence,” highlighting the bitter reality that the perpetrators of such crimes are rarely held accountable.
The Mirwaiz also criticized the denial of the body to the family for burial, terming it “inhuman and condemnable.”
He further said that frequent cases, charge sheets and arrests involving Kashmiris by multiple agencies, including the NIA, SIA, CIK, and Cyber Cell, contribute to an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
He also referred to dismissals of government employees, stating that such actions, without judicial recourse, add to concerns among the public.
“This creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation and reinforces the narrative that portrays an entire people as dangerous and suspect,” he said, adding that such measures cannot lead to sustainable peace or progress in the occupied territory.
Mirwaiz further said that he was addressing the congregation at Jamia Masjid after a long time, as access to the central place of worship for the Muslims of Kashmir is repeatedly restricted at the will of authorities. He noted that even Eid prayers and many Fridays during Ramadan, including the sacred night of Shab-e-Qadr and Juma-tul-Vida, were denied, terming it a serious violation of religious rights.
“Such repeated restrictions are not just about closing a mosque, they speak of the larger reality, where normalcy is proclaimed while people’s fundamental rights are curtailed through bans, bars and censorship.
Unfortunately the harassment of Kashmiris is unceasing,” Mirwaiz said.
