Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq says house detention barred him from Friday prayers
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq says he was barred from Friday prayers at Jama Masjid in Srinagar on November 6.
He said police and barricades kept him under house detention at his home in the Nigeen area.
The restrictions followed a sermon the previous Friday that discussed an International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir.
The sermon raised concerns about political prisoners, civil liberties and political engagement.
Farooq called the authorities’ actions arbitrary and said they restricted his movement and speech.
A spokesman said the detention had also prevented him from addressing other scheduled religious gatherings.
No next steps were given in the account.
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he was prevented from leading Friday prayers at Jama Masjid in Srinagar on November 6, 2026.
He said his house detention had continued for the past week, with police deployment and barricades outside his residence in Nigeen.
Farooq said the restrictions followed a sermon he gave the previous Friday on the Kashmir issue.
His earlier sermon cited an International Crisis Group report and raised concerns about political prisoners, civil liberties and the need for political engagement and reconciliation.
A spokesman said the detention had prevented Farooq from carrying out religious duties, including leading the Friday congregation.
- Who
- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir’s chief cleric.
- What
- He said house detention barred him from leading Friday prayers and delivering a sermon at Jama Masjid.
- When
- Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Jama Masjid in Srinagar; Farooq said police and barricades were outside his residence in Nigeen.
- Why
- He said the restrictions apparently followed his previous Friday’s sermon on the Kashmir issue.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Farooq delivered a sermon discussing findings of an International Crisis Group report and concerns about political prisoners, civil liberties and political engagement.
Farooq said he remained under house detention and could not lead the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid.
- Cleric
- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
- Location
- Jama Masjid, Srinagar
- Reported detention
- For the past week
- Residence area
- Nigeen
- Previous sermon
- Discussed the Kashmir issue and findings of an International Crisis Group report
What people are saying
My house detention continues unabated for the past week, with police deployment and barricades in place. Unfortunately, I will not be able to deliver the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid Srinagar to the faithful today.
It was aimed to curtail freedom of movement and speech, and also betray the official narrative of ‘normalcy’ in Kashmir