Srinagar: Right from the day people of Kashmir started their fight against the oppression of Dogras to New Delhi’s forcible control, the pulpit of Jamia Masjid has reverberated with the voice against repression and to highlight and represents the true aspirations of people of Kashmir to break free from the yoke of subjugation. This was stated by Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while addressing a mammoth Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid here.
Mirwaiz said that whether it was the Sikh rule, or the Dogra rule, Jamia Masjid was targeted time and again and in 1931 and it was for the first time during Dogra rule when the grand masjid was closed for Jumat-ul-Vida(last Friday of Ramazan) prayers. He said since then conspiracies were hatched against Jamia Masjid over the past 90 years and one of the brutal assaults on the sanctity of this masjid was on August 25, 1989 under operation Jamia Masjid when the Kashmir’s spiritual centre was desecrated. Mirwaiz said that Jamia Masjid continues be an eye sore for the ruling regimes including those at the helm today as its pulpit represents the sentiments and aspirations of the people and fearlessly raises its voice against oppression and atrocities inflicted on the people of Kashmir in pursuit of the fulfilment of those aspirations.
Mirwaiz said that the more repressive measures government takes to damage the sanctity and centrality of the Jamia Masjid, the more people should throng the place to give a befitting reply to the government that Kashmiris will never surrender. He said even today barricades were erected by the police at various places to prevent youth and people from reaching Jamia Masjid.
Raising the slogans: “ye mulq hamara hai, is ka faisla hum karengay, shohada kay waris zinda hai, jis Kashmir ko khoon say seenchay, wo Kashmir hamara hai and hum kya chahtay azadi” , people responded in loud voices. Mirwaiz said these slogans will continue to reverberate in the mosque till “we achieve our right.”
Referring to the sub human plight of the political prisoners in various jails across India Mirwaiz said these prisoners have been languishing in jails for years on end and some of them have even completed, 25, 21, 15, 13 and 11 years in prisons. He named all the 25 political prisoners who are lodged in various jails in and outside the state that include Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakthoo lodged in Udhampur jail Jammu having completed 25 years in prison. Similarly, Javaid Ahmed Khan is in Tihar jail Delhi and has completed 21 years.
Miwaiz said Mahmood Topiwala, Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Mirza Nisar Hussain, Ali Muhamamd Bhat, Lateif Ahmed Waza Abdul Ghani Goni have completed 21 years each. He said Ghulam Muhamamd Bhat has completed 16 years, Barkat Ali khan, Muhamamd Sidiq Gujar Muhamamd Iqbal Khan, Muhamamd Sidiq Gujar, Sai Muhammad Gujar, Mehandia Gujar, Abdul Wahid Naik, Feroz Ahmed Bhat, Pervez Ahmed Mir, Shaikh Imran, Dr Muhammad Shafi Khan, Muhammad Aslam, abdul Hamid Teli , Bilal Ahmed Kuta, Muhammad Abbas Wani, Maqsood Ahmed Bhat and Farooq Ahmed Sheikh have completed, 15, 12, 11 and 10 years respectively in prisons as well as Massarat Alam Bhat who is in prison since many years
Mirwaiz also said that Hurriyat leaders arrested by the NIA and ED and lodged in New Delhi’s Tihar that include Shabir Ahmed Shah, Advocate Shahidul islam, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Mehraudin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, Ghulam Muhamamd Bhat, Zahoor Ahmed Wali, Shahid Yousuf, Farooq Ahmed Dar and others. He said under a well planned conspiracy, these prisoners have been lodged either in small prison cells or along with dreaded criminals which poses a direct threat to their life. He also condemned the arrest of Syeda Asiya Andrabi and many of her associates
Mirwaiz paid tributes to the Kashmiri prisoners for their perseverance courage and commitment towards the goal of right to self-determination. He asked GOI to give up its obstinacy and policy of revenge and release these prisoners forthwith, remove AFSPA and start demilitarisation from Jammu Kashmir.
Mirwaiz said that as per the past practice, this year too, coming Friday will be observed as Jumatul Vida and also as Youm-e-Qudus (in solidarity with Palestine) and also Youme-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Day).
