Srinagar, February 28 : Thousands of faithful gathered at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar on the second Juma of the blessed month of Ramzan, where Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, addressed the congregation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Mirwaiz said that the situation in Middle East is very disturbing and worrying. The plight of the people of occupied Palestine facing persecution at the hands of Israel keeps getting worse. With lack of international accountability for Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Israel is emboldened to escalate its illegal and inhuman actions, formalising land grabs in West Bank knowing that it will not be held to account.
The genocide followed by dispossession of Palestinians in their own homeland, he said, is a reflection of injustice and the breakdown of international law and the moral conscience of international community.
The Mirwaiz said that unless justice is delivered to the people of Palestine and its occupation ended, the region will continue to be in a state of conflict and instability and cause grief to all who care about humanity and humanitarian values.
The Mirwaiz further said that Israel in its arrogance is destabilising the entire region with the heavy US military build-up in the region, in preparation for what many observers see as an imminent attack on Iran. This, he said, is very ominous not only for the region but the world.
Referring to Kashmir’s strong cultural ties with Iran, the Mirwaiz said that a large number of students from Kashmir study in Iran and the war like build up is creating panic and worry among the parents and families. He prayed for the safety and well-being of the Iranian people and the Kashmiri students studying there, and for peace and stability in the region.
He also said that the news coming from the neighbourhood is disturbing. Two Muslim states Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting each other that too in the holy month of Ramzan. Wars, he said, only cause grief and loss of life.
He expressed hope that better sense will prevail and that both neighbours resolve their differences through dialogue and good neighbourly principles, the path shown to us by Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).
