Jammu & Kashmir’s head cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday condemned Israel’s attack on Iran, saying it has become a “rogue state”. “While perpetuating genocide on hapless Palestinians and getting away with it, Israel is now putting the whole of Middle East in peril. It has become a rogue state and a huge threat to world peace,” he told the Friday congregation at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. He called upon the United Nations and world leaders to put pressure on Israel to stop the “genocide” and war in Gaza and prevent it from “targeting other nations”. Mirwaiz Farooq, who was delivering his first Friday sermon since Eid, also said that the J&K Lieutenant Governor should explain Eid prayer bans. “I want to ask the authorities — especially the LG as he is the head — that while he extends Eid greetings to people and talks about the spirit of Eid and Islam in a very reverent manner, why are the Muslims of Kashmir prevented from offering Eid prayers at Eidgah, or even at the Jama Masjid? What is the reason? The authorities should spell out their fears and apprehensions if that is what prevents them — or is it to punish Kashmiris?” On June 7, the day of Eid, prayers were not allowed at the grand mosque or the traditional prayer ground at Eidgah. Mirwaiz Farooq was also restricted to his residence on Eid day. Issuing a condemnation for the repeated closures of the Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said that the “narrative of normalcy post abrogation of 370” a “myth” as “oppressive measures” are very much in place. He also spoke of a lack of “political or administrative space” for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. “The elected government too so far has failed to stand up and safeguard the rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. They cannot forever hide behind that they have limited authority and wait for nothing or all till statehood is restored. People rightfully have expectations of them to deliver,” he said.
