ISLAMABAD
\nMirwaiz 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.
\nAccording 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.
\nHe described the incident as deeply distressing and a matter of grave concern.
\nMirwaiz 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.
\nHe emphasized the innocence of the victim and condemned the arbitrary targeting of civilians.
\nHe added that the grieving family is demanding justice through an impartial investigation, but expressed skepticism, saying, \u201cWe can only hope that justice is done, though past experiences do not inspire confidence,\u201d highlighting the bitter reality that the perpetrators of such crimes are rarely held accountable.
\nThe Mirwaiz also criticized the denial of the body to the family for burial, terming it \u201cinhuman and condemnable.\u201d
\nHe 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.
\nHe also referred to dismissals of government employees, stating that such actions, without judicial recourse, add to concerns among the public.
\n\u201cThis creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation and reinforces the narrative that portrays an entire people as dangerous and suspect,\u201d he said, adding that such measures cannot lead to sustainable peace or progress in the occupied territory.
\nMirwaiz 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.
\n\u201cSuch repeated restrictions are not just about closing a mosque, they speak of the larger reality, where normalcy is proclaimed while people\u2019s fundamental rights are curtailed through bans, bars and censorship.
\nUnfortunately the harassment of Kashmiris is unceasing,\u201d Mirwaiz said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-539995","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n