KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Announcing that any attempt to “dilute the centrality and sanctity” of historic Jamia Masjid will not be tolerated, Hurriyat (m) Chairperson, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stressed upon Kashmiris to stay vigilant of those forces who want to weaken the significance of the mosque, which has historically represented the religious, political, social and cultural sentiments and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
Addressing Friday gathering at Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said, “the Masjid occupies an important position in Kashmir,” adding, “at every juncture of history, apart from spreading the message of Allah, the pulpit of Jamia Masjid has always raised the voice on behalf of the suppressed people especially since 1931.”
An amalgam statement quoted Mirwaiz as having said, “during the days of Muhajr-e-Millat and Shaheed-e-Millat, Jamia Masjid was time and again targeted and on August 25, 1989, government forces laid siege of the Masjid and desecrated it hurting the sentiments of Muslims all over the valley.”
“Despite the opposition of the people to the deployment of large number of forces outside the mosque, the government paid no heed to it and continued with this ploy to provoke people and vitiate the atmosphere,” he said.
Welcoming the Amnesty International report on the completion of 25 years of the draconian law, AFSPA in Kashmir, Mirwaiz stressed upon the international community to take strong notice of the report and pressurize India into revoking the barbaric law immediately.
He said that it is the moral responsibility of UN to use its office to rescind the draconian law from Kashmir, adding, the international Human Rights bodies should also take strong notice of the damning report which documents the rights violations committed by Indian army and Indian paramilitary and police forces in Kashmir.
Mirwaiz strongly denounced the continuous house arrest of Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani especially barring him from offering Friday prayers. Mirwaiz called it as blatant interference in religious rights and obligations and termed it as dictatorial.
