Mirwaiz Umar Farooq disallowed from leading Friday prayers in Srinagar
The Kashmir chief cleric said he remains under house detention for the sixth day as authorities prevented him from leading prayers at Jama Masjid.
Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday, November 6, 2026, that authorities disallowed him from leading congregation prayers at Jama Masjid in Srinagar. According to The Hindu, the Mirwaiz stated he would be unable to deliver the Friday sermon to the faithful today.
The Mirwaiz said in a post on X that his house detention has continued for the past week. He shared videos showing police deployment and barricades outside his residence in the Nigeen area of Srinagar.
A spokesman for the Mirwaiz said the cleric has been confined to his residence since the previous Friday. The spokesman added that this has prevented him from fulfilling religious responsibilities, such as leading the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid.
The Mirwaiz described the actions of the authorities as "arbitrary and authoritarian measures." He claimed the move aimed to curtail freedom of movement and speech and to betray the official narrative of normalcy in Kashmir.
During his sermon on the previous Friday, the Mirwaiz mentioned findings from an International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted concerns regarding civil liberties, political prisoners, and the need for reconciliation and meaningful political engagement.