Srinagar, Sep 15: Praising the recent BRICS summit in New Delhi for sending out “a good message of peace and diplomacy”, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday warned that global conflicts are actively escalating despite assertions that the current era is not one of war.
Speaking to reporters here following a meeting of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of several religious bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, the Mirwaiz expressed hope that de-escalation efforts would yield results and restore peace in West Asia.
Emphasising his commitment to raising awareness about escalating global violence, the former separatist leader said that while many proclaim “this era is not an era of war”, the ground reality shows worsening geopolitical tensions and widespread turmoil – from South Asia and Europe to Ukraine and Sudan.
“Our endeavour has always been that wherever we get the opportunity, we talk about how the world is currently facing a situation where wars are spreading unfortunately day by day. Although we say that this era is not an era of war, the reality in front of us is quite the opposite,” the Mirwaiz said, highlighting the growing turmoil in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, Europe, Ukraine and Sudan.
On the just-concluded BRICS summit, the Mirwaiz said, “I understand that this was also an important thing that, in the context of BRICS, global leadership gathered in Delhi. A good message of peace and diplomacy went out from there, and we expect that these efforts will be successful and peace will be established… We have always been proponents of this.”
Responding to a query on his interaction with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the national capital, the Mirwaiz said the meeting went well and provided an opportunity to convey a message of solidarity on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We gave them a message of solidarity. We feel that peace cannot be established until there is justice. So, we conveyed that message to them. We also talked about the historical, cultural, religious and civilisational connection that has been there between Iran and Kashmir for centuries,” he said.
He added that the Iranian leadership expressed a keen desire to visit Kashmir and engage with the local people.
The Mirwaiz had handed over a two-page letter to the Iranian foreign minister for his president, in which he called for restraint, engagement and diplomacy, and said that India, with its legacy of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of ‘Ahimsa’, can play a constructive role in encouraging dialogue and preventing further escalation of the West Asia conflict.
In the letter addressed to Pezeshkian, the Mirwaiz also cautioned against allowing the conflict to become another source of division within the Muslim community, urging the followers to stand together against sectarianism and political rivalries.
Referring to the MMU meeting, the Mirwaiz said it deliberated upon social issues prevalent in J-K, including an increase in incidents of suicide and drug abuse.
The meeting decided that coordination should be increased among the mosques and madrassas across J-K to address the issues.
“We are expanding the scope of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema. We have decided that every month, we will go to one district and not just engage with the mosques and madrasas, but also establish contact with the local institutions and NGOs so that these issues can be addressed,” he said.
The MMU has also decided that a joint sermon will be issued from every grand mosque, mosque and Imambada each month on various social issues, the Mirwaiz said.
Describing drug addiction as a very big challenge, the Mirwaiz appreciated the government’s efforts in curbing the menace, and called for strict action against those involved.
He, however, said that the families of those involved should not be targeted.
“But, it is not possible that you take action against one addiction and promote another. I am talking about alcohol,” he said, adding that the MMU is in complete agreement that a strict ban should be imposed on the sale and consumption of alcohol, whether in public places or private.
