Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Challenges Unjust Ban on Awami Action Committee

Srinagar: Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq spoke out on Friday against the government’s decision to ban his group, the Awami Action Committee (AAC). He said the ban is unfair and based on false claims. The AAC has always been about talking, not fighting, and helping people find peaceful solutions since it started in 1964.

Mirwaiz spoke to people during Friday prayers at the famous Jama Masjid in Srinagar, marking his first public appearance since the Ministry of Home Affairs banned AAC for five years on March 11. The government accused the group of spreading anti-India views and supporting separation from India.

The AAC and another group, Ittehad ul Muslimeen, were labeled as unlawful under a law aimed at preventing illegal activities. Mirwaiz highlighted that the AAC has tried to communicate with young people who turned to violence and has engaged with leaders from different parties, such as the BJP and Congress, seeking dialogue.

He expressed that the accusations against AAC are not only strange but also unfair, especially since the group promotes peace and unity—it has a history of compassion, even helping amidst personal tragedies. His father, Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq, worked hard to bring peace and was a brave voice against violence, even during tough times.

Mirwaiz asked whether a group founded by such a principled person could truly threaten law and order. He called the ban harsh and unnecessary, urging the authorities to lift it. He also thanked various communities, including Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs, for supporting AAC and speaking out against the ban.