Mohammad Farooq Shah | |
|---|---|
محمد فاروق شاہ | |
 | |
| Mirwaiz of Kashmir | |
| In office 1968 – 21 May 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah |
| Succeeded by | Mirwaiz Umar Farooq |
| Title | Mirwaiz-i-Kashmir |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1944-12-21)December 21, 1944 |
| Died | 21 May 1990 |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | Mazar-i-Shuhada, Eidgah,Srinagar |
| Children | 2, includingMirwaiz Umar Farooq |
| Citizenship | India |
| Occupation | Politician, religious leader |
| Relations | Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah(uncle) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
Mohammad Farooq Shah[a] (1944–1990) commonly known asMirwaiz Moulvi Farooq, was a prominentKashmiri religious leader and political figure. As theMirwaiz ofKashmir, he served as the head cleric of historicJamia Masjid inSrinagar, and led the All Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (ACC), a coalition of political parties inJammu and Kashmir that sought resolution of theKashmir conflict.[1][2]
Moulvi farooq was born on 21 December 1944 (27thDhu al-Hijjah 1363AH) inSrinagar.[3] He belonged to the influential clerical family that held the traditional title ofMirwaiz of Kashmir. He received his early education at home and later enrolled at Islamia and Oriental College, studyingtheology,Islam andArabic language andliterature.
In 1968, following the death of his uncle,Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah, he succeeded to the position ofMirwaiz of Kashmir.[3][4] As head preacher of the historicJamia Masjid inSrinagar, he delivered sermons and held religious authority inKashmir Valley.
At the age of 19, Shah emerged as a leader during the agitation over thedisappearance of the relic fromHazratbal Shrine. He led protests demanding its recovery and helped found the All Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (ACC), a coalition of political parties in Kashmir, becoming its chairman.[4]
Although primarily a religious figure, his role expanded into socio-political mobilisation, especially representing sections ofKashmiri Muslims outside the dominant regional parties.[4]
On 21 May 1990, Shah was shot by gunmen in his residence at Nigeen,Srinagar. He was shifted toSKIMS,Soura, where he was declared dead.[3] His funeral procession passed through theHawal area of Srinagar, where shots were fired at mourners, resulting in deaths of dozens of civilians;[5] his body was dropped in the middle of the road, an event that came to be known as theHawal massacre.[6][7][8][9]
In 2010, a militant of theHizbul Mujahideen was convicted for his murder, and in 2023, two additional militants were arrested by the police in connection with the assassination.[10][11] In a press briefing, the police said the arrested militants included the one who had entered into the bedroom of Mirwaiz and opened fire at him.
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