Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, was permitted to deliver the Friday sermon at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid on July 25, 2025, after being barred for two consecutive weeks. During the sermon, he addressed the frequent restrictions imposed on his access to the mosque, which he described as an interference in the people's right to practice their religion.
Mirwaiz had been under house arrest for the two Fridays leading up to July 25th. He was initially placed under house detention on July 11, 2025, preventing him from leading prayers at Jamia Masjid ahead of the July 13 Martyrs' Day commemoration. July 13 is a historically significant date in Kashmir, commemorating the killing of 22 Kashmiris in 1931 during protests against autocratic rule. The day was previously a public holiday but was removed from the list by authorities in 2020.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mirwaiz stated that for the second consecutive Friday, he remained under house detention, with barricades blocking every lane and by-lane to his residence, causing inconvenience to the entire neighborhood. He asserted that the memory of the martyrs could not be regulated by the rulers.
Following his release and return to Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz addressed the congregation, stating that repeatedly preventing him from delivering the Friday sermon was unjustified and an infringement on religious rights. He urged the administration to cease imposing arbitrary restrictions and allow him to attend Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid without hindrance. He has consistently requested that people be allowed to freely practice their fundamental rights, including the right to offer prayers and listen to Friday sermons.
Several political figures have voiced their concerns regarding Mirwaiz's detention. A spokesperson for the National Conference (NC) called Farooq's detention "an attempt to silence a religious leader and disrespect the martyrs' legacy". The NC spokesperson also advocated for the restoration of July 13 as a public holiday, emphasizing its importance as a reminder of standing up to injustice in Kashmir. Another NC leader and MLA, Tanvir Sadiq, described it as deeply unfortunate and unacceptable that the Mirwaiz had once again been detained at home and prevented from fulfilling his religious duties, stating that silencing a religious leader dishonors not only his voice but also the legacy of the martyrs.
During his sermon, Mirwaiz also addressed the situation in Palestine, expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza. He voiced concerns about the humanitarian crisis and starvation they are facing, denouncing the global community's silence and inaction. He stated that their hearts bleed for the people of Gaza, especially the children, who are being bombarded and starved while searching for food and safety and that starvation is being used as a weapon of war. He added that the world's failure to prevent these atrocities and the killing of civilians in real-time would remain a stain on the conscience of humanity.
