2 min readMar 18, 2026 08:50 PM IST
The chief cleric of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq has strongly condemned the killing of Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, by Israel.
“The resilience of the people of Iran and their leadership reflects the spirit of a true Muslim nation — courageous, steadfast, and with resolute faith in Almighty Allah,” he said, adding that such people “deserve to lead.”
On Wednesday, Mirwaiz was restricted from leading prayers at a mosque in central Srinagar. He was also restricted from leaving his residence to lead prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan and the Shab-e-Qadr prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, over the past week.
Mirwaiz said that the “fearful rulers of this police state have, by force, once again kept him away from the House of God in the holy month of Ramzan, placing him under house arrest.”
He has also called out the “shrinking of space for religious practices.” Since 2019, Eid prayers have not been allowed at the Jamia Masjid and there are also apprehensions that they may not be allowed again on the approaching Eid-ul Fitr, Mirwaiz said.
Over the past seven years, during the month of Ramzan, while sometimes Friday prayers have been allowed, congregational prayers have not been allowed on Jumat-ul vida or the last Friday of Ramzan.
