Srinagar, Nov 6 (KNS): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Friday said he continued to remain under house detention for nearly a week, with police deployment and barricades outside his Nigeen residence preventing him from delivering the Friday sermon at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar.

"My house detention continues unabated for the past week with police deployment and barricades in place. Unfortunate that I will not be able to deliver the Friday sermon at Jama Masjid Srinagar to the faithful today," Mirwaiz said in a post on X.

Questioning the restrictions on his movement and speech, Mirwaiz said such measures contradicted the official narrative of normalcy in Kashmir.

"Arbitrary and authoritarian measures to curtail freedom of movement and speech only betray the official narrative of 'Normalcy' in Kashmir," he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The restrictions reportedly followed his sermon at Jama Masjid last Friday, during which he referred to a recently published International Crisis Group report on Jammu and Kashmir, raising concerns over political prisoners, civil liberties and the need for meaningful political engagement and reconciliation.

According to a statement issued on his behalf, Mirwaiz has remained confined to his residence since then, preventing him from attending scheduled religious gatherings and fulfilling his responsibilities, including delivering the weekly Friday sermon at Jama Masjid.(KNS)