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Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Drops Hurriyat Chairman Title From Social Media Under Pressure

He says authorities warned his X account would be removed due to UAPA bans on Hurriyat entities.

Overview

  • Mirwaiz removed the 'Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference' designation from his X profile, leaving only his name and location.
  • He said he faced pressure to change his handle and that officials threatened to take down his account, calling the decision a Hobson’s choice.
  • His verified Facebook bio now identifies him as the 'Spiritual Leader of Kashmiri Muslims' after separatist titles were taken off.
  • The Centre has banned his Awami Action Committee under the UAPA, with the Home Ministry accusing it of aiding militancy and secessionist propaganda.
  • The move follows years of post-2019 crackdowns that weakened the Hurriyat; Mirwaiz was under house detention for nearly five years, has since limited political commentary, and recently met a Yashwant Sinha-led delegation in Srinagar.