Amid grief over Iran’s turmoil, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq praised the seamless unity displayed by Jammu and Kashmir’s Muslims through a valley-wide shutdown. Extending from Pir Panjal to Jammu, this expression of condolence and outrage against the attacks highlights a profound communal conscience committed to justice.
The Wednesday bandh was a dignified, non-violent statement of support for victims worldwide, Mirwaiz emphasized. However, the crackdown that followed paints a troubling picture.
Arrests of peaceful demonstrators, encompassing women and youth, alongside punitive actions against online coverage and media outlets, represent a grave overreach. ‘Honoring the right to protest and articulate pain is non-negotiable,’ he declared, calling such tactics illegal.
He pressed officials to free detainees promptly and abandon their repressive stance on speech freedoms.
Separately, Mehbooba Mufti criticized New Delhi and the NC government’s reticence on the US-Israel offensive, which she said killed Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Khamenei after days of bombardment.
In her press interaction, Mufti evoked fond memories of Iran’s generosity to India, supplying oil gratis during embargoes. ‘Our past alliances demand we speak up now—silence from leaders shouldn’t silence the street,’ she argued, rejecting any move to prosecute protesters.
As the region navigates these emotions, Mirwaiz and Mufti’s appeals spotlight the tension between order and liberty in India’s democratic framework.