Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to release Kashmiri prisoners, saying such a move would help build goodwill and trust among the people of the Valley.
Addressing the Friday congregation at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz—who also serves as the chief cleric of Kashmir—said, “Unfortunately, hundreds of Kashmiris, both young and old, from all walks of life, continue to languish in jails for years and even decades, many under harsh laws, merely for holding dissenting views.”
He added that the prolonged detentions have taken a severe toll on the prisoners’ physical and mental health, while their families continue to suffer deeply.
Among those imprisoned, the Mirwaiz said, are several political leaders, including Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah, JKLF chief Yasin Malik, Dukhtaran-e-Milat head Asiya Andrabi, north Kashmir MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid (Engineer Rashid), and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik.
Appealing for a “humanitarian and democratic relook” at the issue, Mirwaiz said that freeing the detainees would bring an end to the “long-standing ordeal” of the prisoners and their families.
“Such a gesture would go a long way in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmir and earning their goodwill,” he added.
