Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in his Friday sermon at Jama Masjid in Srinagar expressed concern over “disturbing and worrying situation” in Palestine, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

“The situation in the Middle East is very disturbing and worrying. The plight of the people of occupied Palestine facing persecution keeps getting worse. With lack of international accountability for Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Israel is emboldened to escalate its illegal and inhuman actions, formalising land grabs in West Bank knowing that it will not be held to account,” the Mirwaiz told the congregation.

He expressed concern over what he described as “breakdown of international law and the moral conscience of the international community” in Palestine.

Highlighting Kashmir’s strong cultural ties with Iran, the Mirwaiz said, “A large number of students from Kashmir study in Iran and the war-like build up is creating panic and worry among the parents and families. We pray for the safety and well-being of the Iranian people and the Kashmiri students studying there, and for peace and stability in the region.”

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He also termed the latest Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict as “disturbing”. “Two Muslim states Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting each other, that too in the holy month of Ramzan. Wars only cause grief and loss of life. I hope better sense will prevail and that both neighbours resolve their differences through dialogue and good neighbourly principles,” he added.