Open letter to Umar Farooq

Dear Brother in Islam, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,

Assalamu Alikum,

Let me start by narrating an incident from the archives of Islamic History. The incident was the occurrence of Jung-e-Jamal (War of the Camel).

On one side was Assadullah Hazrate Ali bin Abdul Muttalib (Cousin and Son-in-Law of Muhammad (SAW) and on the other side was Ummul Momineen Hazrate Ayesha Saddiqah (RA). These were two people dearest to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and hence they are dearest to us as well because they both belonged to Family of Muhammad (SAW). The Battle of Camel happened due to a myriad of reasons and nobody can claim that he can judge the cause and the conclusion. Despite being on opposed sides, despite raising weapons against each other- these two still are the only few lucky ones who got the news of being Jannati while alive. This was an honor reserved for the very few of Prophet’s companions. The reason to bring up this incident is that Islam has seen turbulent times in the past, is seeing harsh times and only Allah (JS) knows when the seas will be calm for Muslims. But despite that the one thing that has always allowed Islam to flourish and prosper is that nowhere did Muslims give up the concept of Ikhwatul Islam, fair Justice and truth.

We are writing to you in a hope that at this critical juncture when we are facing enemies on all sides, you will be the guiding light for us. We are writing to you in a hope that you will take our hand and lead us to victory. We are writing with the tears, hopes and prayers of innocents butchered in the valley of Kashmir for you and me. We are writing to you in a hope that eventually all of us need to take a step backward to realize that we all stand for the freedom of Kashmir. We are writing to you in a hope that you being a direct victim of Indian atrocity know how it feels like to be an orphan and an oppressed.

Justice is being denied to us, jails are being filled with us, and even the water that we drink is soaked in the blood of our beloved Martyrs. The consistent and persistent conspiracy hatched by Indian agencies to dilute the demography of Kashmir Valley is not only alarming but it is a real threat to our survival. The Christian missionaries are luring our innocent children to abandon their faith for mere pennies and the foreign laborers are being settled in Kashmir without any hesitation. In this critical phase of our journey towards freedom, do we want to be remembered as “Once upon a time there were some Muslims living in Kashmir” or do we want to face the challenge head on. We don’t have the luxury of being complacent or lazy. We don’t have the time to go back in time and wish things were different. We don’t have the energy to start a new revolution. The last 20 years of Kashmir have been bloody, brutal and unforgiving, but we can’t get bogged down with fatigue and say we are tired. Surrendering or abandoning the struggle of freedom movement is not an option simply because our existence is attached to it.

Dear Brother, We come to the not so pleasant part of our letter to you. These questions might be uncomfortable and you are absolutely not obliged to respond. But it will go a long way in clarifying the doubts, the reservations and the misunderstandings. We also understand that we have a right to ask these questions because you are the face of the revolution and the face of our freedom struggle. Hence we need to know if we are following the right person or if it is just an illusion. There is no room for diplomacy or ‘back channel dialogue’ because all we need is for you to state your position on where you stand. The below questions are just the ones that need immediate attention and by no means is it a complete list of queries that we have.

1. By virtue of being Mirwaiz of Kashmir, how is it possible that you do not wish for an Islamic state in Kashmir. Being a well read person and an intellectual, you must know that secularism, and communism, capitalism, socialism, liberalism, fundamentalism and all other ‘isms’ are incompatible with Islam. Having said that minorities in Islam are treated with highest respect, honor and justice as can be seen from the pages of Islamic History. Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’ time, When Muslims ruled in Europe and when Muslims ruled in India – there was absolutely not a single incident of any genocide of minorities.
2. The leadership issue of Kashmir freedom struggle needs nobody to explain how messed up it is, to clean up this mess what Is stopping you from joining hands with Syed Ali Shah Geelani. All Syed Ali Shah Geelani is asking you that the alliance of pro-freedom parties can exist when all demand an Islamic state. Being an Islamic cleric, I don’t think you should have any hesitation of doing so.
3. You silence on the conversion issue in Kashmir is being seen as a tacit understanding and acceptance on your part. We want to know why you did not condemn or raise your voice against this menace.
4. You silence on Indian agencies conspiracy of settling down the foreigners from India in Kashmir also does not go very well. We want to know why you maintained silence on this sensitive issue.
5. You have had several dialogues with Indian government over several years. Are you ready to make the details of those meetings public? This is essential because you represent the sisters who were raped, the brothers who were killed and the mothers who are worn out trying to locate their sons. You are representing the pious blood of our martyrs and we need to know If that is no being sold in Khan Market, Delhi.
6. You know the condition of orphans in Kashmir. The heartbreaking condition of widows of the martyrs. The misery of those who are indefinitely suffering in Indian jails is also not hidden from any one. What are the steps taken by you as leader to ease their condition?
7. Recently you had lunch with one of the interlocutors from India “Radha Kumar”, also present was one of the most well known criminal and some PDP agents. Radha Kumar and her ilk are nothing but a diversion. They are back stabbers who enjoy tormenting the Kashmiri Muslims. There was a renegade gunman in that lunch, these are the same people who participate in the mass rapes of Kashmiri women, who enjoy spilling the blood of our brothers and who play with our honor. How can you justify sitting on the same table with them.
8. Please tell the oppressed people of Kashmir that they are in good hands, that we are not being led astray and that we are following Sirat-ul-Mustaqeem.

Instead of being five fingers of a hand, let us make it a fist. Instead of being vulnerable let us turn our vulnerability into our greatest strengths. Your answers to the above queries will undoubtedly go a long way in pacifying the people of Kashmir whom you claim to represent. On your shoulders is the biggest responsibility which comes once in a lifetime, are you strong enough to carry it.

Yours Sincerely,

Team Aalaw and Frontline | Kashmir