| Mohammad Umar Farooq | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 March 1973 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Occupation | Religious leader and Politician |
Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq (Kashmiri: मीरवाइज़ उमर फ़ारूक़, born 23 March 1973) is a Kashmiri religious and political leader who is the chairman of the Awami Action Committee and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a grassroots coalition of pro-freedom parties in the Indian administered Jammu & Kashmir.
As the Mirwaiz (Mir-Head; Waiz-Priest) of Kashmir and chairman of the Hurriyat Conference has both an important religious and political role in the Kashmir Valley.
Placed on the stage at the age of 17, following the assassination of his father, Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq, the then leader of Awami Action Committee, Umar Farooq united 23 Kashmiri separatist organizations into the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). He has constantly tried to raise much awareness about the Kashmir issue internationally. He was also shown among the Asian Heroes by the Times magazine.[1][2] He maintains that dialogue must take place with India and Pakistan, so long as the Kashmiri aspirations are heard as well.
He inherited as the 14th Mirwaiz (Kashmiri term for traditional preacher of Muslims in Kashmir) in 1990. Before joining the pro-freedom Kashmir politics, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was an alumnus of the prestigious Burn Hall School in Srinagar, he had interests in computers and he wanted to become a software engineer. But fate had something else in store for this man, who became the founder-chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference at the age of 20. He also holds a PhD. in Islamic Studies from Kashmir University.
Referring to the Kashmiri Pandits, he said “We invite them to join the ongoing freedom struggle as our struggle is not area specific. We are seeking freedom for all parts of Jammu and Kashmir and its people irrespective of their religion, creed and caste.”.[3] Furthermore believe that' Pandits will return to the Valley with a deeper sense of security and dignity... And that, unmistakably, requires a favourable environment'. In conclusion Kashmir Pundits should return to kashmir valley.[4]