Mirwaiz Alleges Repeated House Arrests, Flags Shrinking Space for Dissent in Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz Kashmir Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest on the first Friday of 2026, preventing him from addressing congregants at the historic Jamia Masjid, and prompting him to issue a lengthy public message through social media instead.

In his address, Mirwaiz said he was barred from delivering the customary Friday sermon and described the repeated restrictions on his movement as “deeply suffocating”, not only for him but for Kashmiri society at large. He said this was the second consecutive Friday he had been confined to his residence and noted that he had been placed under house arrest for 14 Fridays last year.

Reflecting on 2025, Mirwaiz said the year had been marked by instability and tragedy, referring to the Pahalgam attack, heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and what he described as growing insecurity among Kashmiris across parts of India. He said these developments had further widened the trust deficit between Kashmir and New Delhi rather than addressing it.

The Mirwaiz also raised concerns over what he termed the “criminalisation of dissent”, alleging that any expression of disagreement with official policy is increasingly branded as anti-national. He pointed to the banning of socio-political organisations, including the Awami Action Committee and Ittihadul Muslimeen, saying these moves had effectively closed civic and political spaces.

He said the restrictions have left social media as the only remaining channel to communicate with people, adding that even this platform comes under scrutiny. The Mirwaiz clarified that recent changes to his social media profile were made to avoid complete silencing following the ban on Hurriyat-linked organisations, asserting that his political beliefs and convictions remained unchanged.

Addressing criticism that such steps amounted to compromise, Mirwaiz rejected the charge, saying his commitments to the people of Jammu and Kashmir were rooted in principles upheld over more than three decades. He recalled assuming religious and social responsibilities at a young age following the assassination of his father and said he had consistently sought peaceful engagement and dialogue.

The Mirwaiz reiterated his belief in dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace, citing past engagements with Indian leaders including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and LK Advani. He said peace remained possible if pursued in the spirit of humanity and democracy.

There was no immediate official response from the authorities on the house arrest or the restrictions imposed on the Mirwaiz.