Mirwaiz Urges Humanitarian Review of Detentions, Appeals for Release of Prisoners

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday urged the Prime Minister and Home Minister to take a humanitarian view of the prolonged detentions of political leaders and activists, appealing for their release to end what he termed their “long-standing ordeal.”

Addressing the Friday congregation at the Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz said the day marked the anniversary of Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Farooq’s incarceration in 1965, when he was jailed for three years, suffering health complications that persisted for the rest of his life.

Drawing a parallel with the present, Mirwaiz said that “the story, unfortunately, continues,” as hundreds of Kashmiris, young and old, remain imprisoned for years, many under stringent laws, merely for holding dissenting political views. He said their prolonged detentions had gravely affected their mental and physical health, while their families continued to face untold suffering.

The Mirwaiz named several political leaders, including Shabir Shah, Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi, Aftab Shah, Engineer Rashid, and Mehraj Malik, among those still behind bars.

He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to review these detentions “from a humanitarian and democratic perspective” and to consider their release. Such a gesture, Mirwaiz said, would “go a long way in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmir and earning their goodwill.”

Mirwaiz added that addressing the grievances of detainees and their families through compassion and dialogue would help build trust and pave the way for peace and reconciliation in the region.