Why is Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Urging Trump Not to Strike Iran?

Srinagar, June 20 (NationPress) The head priest of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Friday urged US President Donald Trump to refrain from attacking Iran, emphasizing the need for de-escalation in the Middle East and advocating for peaceful conversations between Israel and Iran.

During the Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid located in the Old City of Nowhatta, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq conveyed his profound worries regarding the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

“The humanitarian plight in Gaza is beyond words. Just yesterday, 92 individuals, including children, lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip,” stated the head priest.

He highlighted that desperate Palestinians are struggling to find food amid a severe hunger crisis.

“Every day, starving Palestinians gather for food assistance, and tragically, they are bombed and killed even in these vulnerable moments. What could be more shocking and inhumane? To exacerbate the situation, hundreds of Iranian civilians have also faced death, and thousands have been injured, as Israel's aggression expands towards Iran,” he remarked.

He stressed that the alarming news is that the US might participate in a potential strike against Iran. “I urge President Trump not to strike Iran,” he stated while leading the Friday sermon.

Mirwaiz noted that such developments are profoundly distressing for the Kashmiri people, who possess cultural and religious connections with Iran and the Middle East.

Observing the disintegration of global order, Mirwaiz added that in these trying times, prayers for victims and appeals are the only recourse available to Kashmiris.

“Thus, we call on President Trump to refrain from striking Iran and escalating the situation further, which would only lead the region down a path of death, destruction, and revenge,” he urged.

Mirwaiz argued that all concerns from various sides can be addressed through peaceful dialogue rather than military intervention, which only complicates situations and leads to humanitarian crises as seen in Gaza.

“We are experiencing a situation that some analysts believe could trigger World War III and the potential annihilation of humanity. Nations need to engage in dialogue to rebuild trust and resolve conflicts and concerns in a peaceful and sincere manner,” he said.

In addition, Mirwaiz called for medical support for detained separatist leader, Shabir Shah, who is currently imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar Jail on charges of terror funding and incitement of youth towards violence.

“Our ongoing conflict has inflicted substantial harm on the lives of people and their families. Reports concerning Shabir Shah Sahab’s grave health condition in Tihar Jail, coupled with the refusal of his family members to communicate with him over the phone for the past two years, and the lack of medical attention he desperately needs, is deeply unfortunate and troubling. I spoke to his wife yesterday, who informed me that the family’s bail plea on his serious medical condition has also been denied. She feels helpless,” he expressed.

Mirwaiz mentioned that similar issues plague numerous other political prisoners, who are suffering from severe health problems due to prolonged imprisonment and substandard jail conditions.

“The extended incarceration, without due legal process, has turned into a punishment in itself. This contradicts the fundamental principles that the Indian legal system asserts to uphold, such as the basic human rights of prisoners, violating the core notions of human dignity, due process, and justice.

“I passionately urge the Government of India and relevant authorities to ensure that the process does not serve as a punishment for the leadership and all other Kashmiri political prisoners, and to promptly intervene to guarantee that Shah Sahab receives necessary medical care, with his family allowed to be with him when he needs them most.

“I also request the elected government of J&K to raise this critical issue and provide all possible assistance in this matter,” concluded Mirwaiz.