India: demonstration in Kashmir against continued detention of religious leader

A Kashmiri holds a photo of religious leader Umar Farooq in protest inside a mosque in Srinagar on March 5, 2021. Outside, law enforcement has dispersed protesters.

AP - Dar Yasin

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In India, clashes took place this Friday in the Kashmir region between demonstrators and the police.

Hundreds of people protested against the continued detention of a religious leader detained for a year and a half.

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With our correspondent in New Delhi,

Sébastien Farcis

Last Thursday, Mohammed Umar Farooq was finally to come out of his detention, after more than a year and a half without being able to leave his home.

But this order appears to have been rescinded by the authorities as he was ultimately prevented from going out to conduct Friday prayers.

And it enraged crowds of Kashmiris who threw stones at the security forces at the end of the prayer.

Umar Farooq is one of the two most important religious leaders in the region, as well as one of the political leaders at the head of the Hurriyat, the organization supporting the independence of this predominantly Muslim state in the 'India.

Twenty months ago, when the Hindu nationalist government suddenly

abrogated Kashmir's autonomy

, it placed Umar Farooq under house arrest, like all politicians in the region.

The other leaders have since been released, but New Delhi seems much more reluctant to release this very influential religious leader in Kashmir.

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To read also: India: victory of the pro-autonomy in the elections in Kashmir, a setback for Modi

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