Srinagar, Aug 7 (Newswire): With streets of occupied Srinagar witnessing fresh clashes over the continued house-arrest of Kashmiri leaders, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq believes the protests are "consequence of curbs on religious freedom in Kashmir which seems to have become a policy of the Jammu and Kashmir Government."
In a chat with Greater Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said that "in a Muslim-majority state like Jammu and Kashmir, such curbs are simply intolerable. There are religious sentiments which people hold dear to them. But it is height of repression that the Hurriyat leaders are not allowed to offer prayers even on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. People have no alternative but to come out on roads and protest this religious interference."
He said on Friday, the police and paramilitary forces "unleashed a reign of terror at Jamia Masjid after its Imam led peaceful protests against the curbs on Hurriyat leadership."
"Jamia Masjid is a place where thousands of people visit during Ramadan for prayers and Islamic teachings. We don't only talk politics there but try to address social issues as well. But it seems to have become policy of the government not to allow the separatists to meet anyone, not to talk of allowing political rallies and speeches. This is the extreme form of repression," Mirwaiz, who continues to remain under house-arrest, said.
"Like 12 days of Urs on Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) at Hazratbal shrine, we have our own programmes for Ramadan at Jamia Masjid. During these 30 days, we also go to different places to impart religious education to people. But I really wonder what kind of thinking is this to impose curbs on religious freedom. And I wonder who the people behind such moves and policies are. This only strengthens our stand that the state government wants to silence everyone through the barrel of gun and baton."
The Mirwaiz lashed out at the ruling National Conference, saying it must "openly declare Martial Law in Jammu and Kashmir so that we have no regrets."
"Today, there seems to be a Martial Law in Kashmir in the garb of so-called democratic set-up. The National Conference-led government must openly declare Martial Law so that we have no regrets on why our social, political and religious rights are trampled," he said.
In a chat with Greater Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said that "in a Muslim-majority state like Jammu and Kashmir, such curbs are simply intolerable. There are religious sentiments which people hold dear to them. But it is height of repression that the Hurriyat leaders are not allowed to offer prayers even on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. People have no alternative but to come out on roads and protest this religious interference."
He said on Friday, the police and paramilitary forces "unleashed a reign of terror at Jamia Masjid after its Imam led peaceful protests against the curbs on Hurriyat leadership."
"Jamia Masjid is a place where thousands of people visit during Ramadan for prayers and Islamic teachings. We don't only talk politics there but try to address social issues as well. But it seems to have become policy of the government not to allow the separatists to meet anyone, not to talk of allowing political rallies and speeches. This is the extreme form of repression," Mirwaiz, who continues to remain under house-arrest, said.
"Like 12 days of Urs on Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) at Hazratbal shrine, we have our own programmes for Ramadan at Jamia Masjid. During these 30 days, we also go to different places to impart religious education to people. But I really wonder what kind of thinking is this to impose curbs on religious freedom. And I wonder who the people behind such moves and policies are. This only strengthens our stand that the state government wants to silence everyone through the barrel of gun and baton."
The Mirwaiz lashed out at the ruling National Conference, saying it must "openly declare Martial Law in Jammu and Kashmir so that we have no regrets."
"Today, there seems to be a Martial Law in Kashmir in the garb of so-called democratic set-up. The National Conference-led government must openly declare Martial Law so that we have no regrets on why our social, political and religious rights are trampled," he said.
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