Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday urged the administration to allow traditional Ashura (Muharram) processions and release youths detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for participating in protests during the US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
She said Muharram was not merely a religious observance but an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir's spiritual, cultural and historical heritage.
Mufti also urged the authorities to make necessary arrangements for Shia mourners, including traffic management, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water and electricity, to facilitate the smooth conduct of religious gatherings and processions.
Expressing concern over reports that several youths have been detained under the Public Safety Act and lodged in jails outside the Union Territory, she said such actions were deeply troubling and could further alienate the youth.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had arrested several Shia protesters for taking part in demonstrations that turned violent at several places across the Union Territory following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"The use of harsh laws against young people, particularly during the sacred month of Muharram, is both insensitive and counterproductive," she said.
She also sought permission for Ashura processions and other traditional Muharram observances, saying such religious processions are an integral part of the region's cultural and spiritual heritage and should be facilitated in a peaceful and dignified manner.
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