Kashmir's Cleric Detained Ahead of Martyrs' Day Observance

Detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

On Friday, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir and a prominent leader of the Hurriyat Conference, reported that he was confined to his home and prevented from attending prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

In a statement shared on X, Farooq suggested that this action was motivated by concerns that he might reference Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, which is commemorated on July 13, during his sermon.

This date honors the memory of 22 individuals who were killed by the forces of the Dogra ruler Hari Singh outside the Srinagar Central Jail in 1931.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government revoked Article 370 in August 2019, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, this day was removed as a public holiday.

Additionally, the birth and death anniversaries of Sheikh Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference, were also excluded from the official holiday list following this abrogation.

Farooq emphasized that the memory of the “[22] martyrs and all those who have sacrificed their lives since” remains ingrained in the collective consciousness of Kashmir and cannot be erased by any restrictions. He stated, “No living nation can forget the supreme sacrifice of life of its martyrs against tyranny and injustice.”

The Hurriyat leader called on the Union Territory authorities to lift the restrictions and permit residents to “peacefully pay homage to the martyrs of July 13.”

His comments followed a day after various regional parties in the region, including the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, called for the reinstatement of the official ceremony to honor July 13 as Martyrs’ Day, as reported by a local media outlet.

The National Conference has also reached out to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, requesting the return of July 13 and Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary as recognized holidays, according to party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar.

Furthermore, the NC has sought authorization from the administration for a delegation led by party general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar to visit the graveyard where the 1931 martyrs are interred on July 13.

Conversely, Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, remarked that the proposal put forth by the Omar Abdullah government would have been more credible if the Assembly speaker had supported her party’s previous resolution to restore the day as a holiday.

Mufti expressed disappointment over the speaker’s rejection of the resolution, stating, “Today’s exercise looks more like lip service than any serious effort.”

The opposition party convened a meeting at its headquarters to announce plans to visit the martyrs’ graveyard, known as Mazar-e-Shuhada, on Monday to pay their respects, as reported by a local media outlet.

“July 13 serves as a reminder of the people’s struggle against tyranny and injustice,” stated party leader Sartaj Madni.