Srinagar, Mar 4 (KNS): Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday called for the release of protesters detained during recent demonstrations and urged the authorities to respect the right to peaceful expression.

The Mirwaiz said the unity displayed by Muslims across Jammu and Kashmir — from the Valley to Pir Panjal and Jammu — in expressing grief over the developments in Iran reflected what he described as the moral conscience of society.

He said the shutdown observed in parts of the region was a peaceful expression of solidarity. “People of Jammu and Kashmir, as one Ummah, have stood against oppression and with the oppressed,” he said.

Emphasising the need to uphold the right to peaceful protest, the Mirwaiz expressed concern over reports of protesters and mourners, including women and minors, being detained.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe termed the detentions “unfortunate and unwarranted”.

He also raised the issue of FIRs being registered in connection with the protests and alleged that accounts of some local media outlets had been withheld by social media platforms, including Facebook, under the enforcement laws of the land for covering the demonstrations.

The Hurriyat chairman urged the authorities to release all those detained and review what he described as continued censorship and action against freedom of expression.(KNS).