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Srinagar : People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday urged the administration to allow traditional Ashura processions and release youths allegedly booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for participating in demonstrations related to recent developments in Iran.
Mufti said Muharram was not merely a religious observance but an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir’s spiritual, cultural and historical heritage, with generations of people participating in commemorations associated with the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
She urged the administration to make adequate arrangements for mourners, including traffic management, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, electricity and other essential services to ensure the smooth conduct of religious gatherings and processions.
Expressing concern over reports that several young men had been booked under the PSA and lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said such actions were “deeply troubling” and could further alienate the youth.
“The use of harsh laws against young people, particularly during the sacred month of Muharram, is both insensitive and counterproductive,” she said.
Muharram is a period of reflection, compassion and solidarity with those who suffer, and the government should engage with people and address their concerns rather than resort to punitive measures, she added.
The PDP chief called on the authorities to review all such cases, release those detained and refrain from further coercive action.
She also sought permission for Ashura processions and other traditional Muharram observances, saying religious processions were an integral part of the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage and should be facilitated in a peaceful and dignified manner.
“Muharram is a time of reflection, sacrifice and remembrance. The values embodied by Imam Hussain continue to inspire people to stand for justice, compassion and human dignity,” Mufti said.
She appealed to people across Jammu and Kashmir to observe Muharram in a spirit of patience, unity, mutual respect and service to humanity while remembering the universal message of Karbala. (KNS).
