The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema—an amalgam of clerics, religious scholars and preachers in Kashmir—Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution denouncing the National Investigation Agency summon to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the head of the MMU, and banning of the socio-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami.
A statement issued after an “extraordinary” meeting of theMMU, chaired by Kashmir’s grand mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, was held at MirwaizManzil, read: “The meeting discussed the grave prevailing situation in Kashmir,especially the extreme assault by New Delhi on the pro-resolution leadership,socio-religious organisations and cadres, and a new wave of repression onpeople of Kashmir.”
The meeting was attended by imams, khateebs and religiousscholars from across Kashmir.
After a threadbare discussion on several issues, a unanimousresolution was passed by the MMU council, which read: “This meeting expressessolidarity with Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Muhammad Umar Farooq, and assures him thatwe stand by him at this time when he is being harassed and victimised by theauthorities, and (we) would stay shoulder to shoulder with him.”
“The meeting strongly denounced the NIA notice to Mirwaiz and summoning him to Delhi for questioning and termed it as a direct interference in religious affairs of Muslims.
Mirwaiz is not just a political leader but religious head of people of Kashmir and any attempt to harass him would be strongly opposed as it will deeply hurt the sentiments and feelings of people across the state,” the resolution said. “The meeting strongly condemns the imposition of ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, and arrest of its leaders and cadres and called it a blatant interference in religious affairs. The meeting also condemned the crackdown on the resistance leadership, killings, and harassment of people.”
The resolution said the meeting condemned in strongest wordsthe frequent sealing of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar which is a religious andspiritual epicenter of lakhs of people of Jammu and Kashmir and termed it as”highly intolerable move, which amounts to direct religious interference.”
“The meeting laid special focus on all segments of societyand urged people of Kashmir to shun sectarian differences and other ideologicalrifts and stay united at this crucial juncture when there is a tremendousonslaught against people (sic). The meeting also urged the people to remainalert about the ploys aimed at creating a wedge among the people on sectarianlines and defeat all such moves,” the resolution read.
The statement said the resolution will be passed duringFriday congregational prayers across Kashmir in all masjids, shrines andimam-baras to seek “unanimous support” of the people of Kashmir against the NIAnotice to Mirwaiz, crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami cadres and banning theorganisation, crackdown on Jamiat-e-Ahlihadees, arrest of resistance leaders and”repressive measures of Delhi against the innocent people of Kashmir.”
Those who participated in the meeting included: Jammu andKashmir Majlis Itehaad-i-Millat, Ittihaad-ul-Muslimeen, Himayat-ul-Islam,Anjuman Tableegul Islam, Ahlibait Foundation, Darul Uloom Raheemiya Bandipora,Jamiat Ulema, Jamat-e-Islami,Anjuman-e-Sharie Shiyaan, Karwan-e-Islami International, Anjuman Auqaf JamaMasjid, Muslim Personal Law Board Jammu and Kashmir, Darul Iftah Wal QazaShariat Islami Bijbehara, Idara Mohsin Aalmeen International, Aastan-i-AaliaPeer Dastageer Sahib Khanyar, Anjuman Nusrat-ul- Islam, Anjuman Ulema-i-Ahnaaf,Rabita Aimah Masajid Jammu and Kashmir.