Mirwaiz visits Delhi first time since Article 370 abrogation

Srinagar, Jan 9: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir, has embarked on a two-week visit to New Delhi with his family.

This marks his first trip to the capital since 2019.

The Mirwaiz was put under house arrest by the government on August 4, 2019, a day before the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

When he was released from house arrest in September last year, Mirwaiz was allowed to deliver the Friday sermon from the historic Jamia Masjid for the first time since 2019.

The Mirwaiz is accompanied by his family, including his mother and would return to Srinagar in the last week of January or the first week of February.

The Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, managing the Jamia Masjid where the Mirwaiz delivers Friday sermons, confirmed that the government permitted him to travel to Delhi on a personal visit.

Despite being released from house arrest in September last year, the Mirwaiz faced subsequent detentions at his residence, especially on Fridays.

Initially allowed to resume delivering Friday sermons from the historic Masjid, the government later prohibited him from doing so and temporarily closed the Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers amid concerns about potential public rallies in support of Palestine.

The Anjuman said that the Mirwaiz was expected to return to Kashmir in a couple of weeks.

The development comes amid ongoing shifts in the political landscape and relations between the Centre and key figures in Jammu and Kashmir.