Mirwaiz Umar Farooq again prevented from addressing Jama Masjid on Friday

Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was once again prevented from addressing the Friday congregation at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, a decision he described as punishment for voicing people's concerns.

The Hurriyat leader, who is also the head cleric of Kashmir and heads the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, a grouping of about 50 religious organisations across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, also said that separatist leader and former militant Yasin Malik's submission before the court deciding not to contest the case while maintaining his innocence called for serious reflection on commitments made to him.

"The policy to silence the pulpit of Jama Masjid and punish me from voicing people's concerns and standing up in defence of their rights and for justice continues unabated. I am again put under house arrest today on a Friday, when I was also to preside over a function in connection with the blessed Islamic month of Rabi ul Awal at Jama Masjid in Srinagar," said the Mirwaiz.