Fri Jan 02 16:54:21 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
In an online sermon delivered on January 2, 2025, Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed concerns about the continued unsettled state of the Kashmir region. He highlighted the ongoing conflict, the widened trust deficit between Kashmiris and New Delhi, and the suppression of dissenting voices. He lamented the banning of his party, the Awami Action Committee (AAC), and the restrictions placed on his own freedom, including being barred from leading prayers at Jama Masjid and recurring house arrests. Despite these challenges and pressure from authorities to alter his social media profile, he reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue, peace, and the well-being of the Kashmiri people, regardless of their religion or affiliation. He emphasized the need to address the plight of Kashmiri youth and leaders in jail and to ensure the right of Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland.
News Article:
Kashmir’s Chief Cleric Denounces ‘Enforced Silence,’ Calls for Dialogue in Online Sermon
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – January 2, 2026 – Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir’s chief cleric, delivered an online sermon on Friday, January 2, 2025, voicing deep concerns about the unresolved Kashmir conflict and the widening gap between the region’s residents and the central government in New Delhi. Farooq, who has been barred from leading prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar for the past two weeks, used the online platform to express his views on the current state of affairs in the region.
In his sermon, the Mirwaiz reflected on the past year, stating, “Despite making unilateral changes in 2019, the reality is that the Kashmir conflict continues to keep the region in an unsettled state that can erupt anytime.” He emphasized the need for dialogue, referencing past engagements with Indian leadership, including former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.
The cleric also addressed the trust deficit, accusing the government of projecting “enforced silence as acquiescence” and failing to address underlying issues. He highlighted the banning of his party, the Awami Action Committee (AAC), which he described as a socio-political institution that advocated for peace and dialogue. He lamented the criminalization of dissenting views and the restrictions placed on his own freedom, including house arrests and the pressure to remove “Hurriyat chairman” from his X profile.
Despite these challenges, the Mirwaiz reaffirmed his commitment to peace, dialogue, and the well-being of the Kashmiri people. He emphasized his role as a channel for lasting peace and reconciliation and highlighted the plight of Kashmiri youth and leaders in jail, as well as the right of Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland.
The Mirwaiz’s sermon, delivered under constrained circumstances, underscores the ongoing tensions and challenges facing the region.
First Piper 