Overview
- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he was confined to his Nageen residence on January 2 and prevented from delivering the Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid, so he issued an online message instead.
- He stated he faced recurring restrictions throughout 2025, including 14 Fridays under house arrest, curtailed access to the Jamia Masjid pulpit, and requirements for official clearance to move or meet people.
- He confirmed removing the 'Hurriyat chairman' title from his X profile on December 26 after warnings his account could be taken down, asserting his beliefs remain unchanged.
- He pointed to the Centre’s March 2025 bans on the Awami Action Committee and Ittihadul Muslimeen and described a shrinking space for dissent and limited access to local media.
- Arguing that unilateral changes in 2019 did not resolve the dispute, he recalled violence in 2025 — including the Pahalgam attack, cross‑border hostilities, and the Delhi blast — and renewed his call for dialogue based on past talks with Indian leaders.