Srinagar, June 24 (KMS): Hundreds of worshippers held a peaceful protest demonstration in the premises of Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, against the continued house detention of senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and chief cleric of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
According to Kashmir Media Service, scores of worshippers assembled inside the grand mosque and staged a peaceful demonstration seeking an unconditional and immediate release of the Mirwaiz. The Mirwaiz, who has been under continued house arrest since August 5, 2019, was prevented from offering the Juma prayers for the 200th consecutive week, yesterday.
The protesters, including young and elderly shouted slogans in favour of Mirwaiz and urged the occupation authorities to set him free. A similar protest was held in the lawn of the mosque which was attended by women and children.
The Imam of Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Ahmad Syed Naqshbandi, addressing the protesters said the occupation authorities are thoughtful of the sentiments associated with the annual Hindu Amarnath yatra. However, he deplored that they are ignoring and hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community by keeping the Mirwaiz away from the Jamia Masjid where he used to deliver weekly Juma sermon.
The APHC spokesman in a statement said the continued house detention of the Mirwaiz was a violation of the religious sentiments of the Kashmiri Muslims and the suspension of Mirwaiz’s fundamental human rights.
Meanwhile, an Indian Army soldier was injured in an attack in Gulpur area of Poonch district of Jammu region. Soon after the incident, Indian troops launched a massive cordon and search operation to nab the attacker. The operation continued till reports last came in.
Political experts and analysts in their interviews and statements in Srinagar said that Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah’s visit to occupied Jammu and Kashmir is a smokescreen aimed at diverting the international community’s attention from the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by Indian troops in the territory. They maintained that such visits of brutal and oppressive Indian rulers to IIOJK have no meaning for the subjugated Kashmiris.
A large number of Indian Americans and their allies gathered in Washington, DC, and held a demonstration against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assault on democratic values and ongoing human rights violations in India. The protest, attended by Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, and tribal communities, was aimed to raise awareness about the deteriorating state of democracy in India, persecution of religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, crackdown on press and civil society. KMS