Srinagar, August 17, 2026: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, who was placed under house arrest today and denied permission to address the time-honoured Khawaja Digar religious gathering at Khanqah-e-Naqshband Sahib (RA), in a post on X said:
“Once again I have been denied permission to address the time honoured religious gathering of Khawaja diger in Naqshband sahab today,with tens of thousands of people eagerly waiting there to participate in this spiritually uplifting religious congregation observed on the 3rd of Rabi-Ul-Awwal each year, and have been put under house arrest!
Preventing me from addressing congregational religious occasions as the Mirwaiz, to punish me for my political outlook and for raising social and religious concerns of people, while a reflection of the now familiar repressive mindset of rulers, is still unfortunate and shameful to say the least.
What is worse is the continued insensitivity and disrespect for the religious rights and practices of Muslims by the authorities by denying them the right to hear the sermon and participate in a spiritual experience. Continued silence on it, will only lead to normalisation of repression of religious rights of Muslims.
It is the duty of all, especially the elected Government to safeguard the religious rights of Muslims of the valley as well as Jammu and stand up to the powers and make them relent.”
