Mehbooba urges authorities to allow Muharram processions in Kashmir

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) appealed to the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to allow Muharram processions in the valley and release youths booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) during protests over developments in Iran.

In a statement, the former Chief Minister said religious processions are an integral part of the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage and must be facilitated in a manner that respects the sentiments and constitutional rights of the people.

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic New Year, will begin in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) and ‘Ashura’ processions will be held on the 10th day, June 26. “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. It is incumbent upon the government to ensure that mourners are able to observe these sacred days freely and peacefully,” Ms. Mehbooba said.

She said Muharram is not merely a religious observance, but an inseparable part of the region’s spiritual, cultural and historical fabric. “Muharram carries profound religious and emotional significance for the people of Jammu & Kashmir and the administration must ensure all necessary arrangements for mourners and devotees,” she said.

The PDP chief urged the authorities to put in place adequate measures for traffic management, health care facilities, sanitation, drinking water, electricity and other essential services to facilitate the smooth conduct of religious gatherings and processions.

Expressing concern over “reports that several young men who participated in demonstrations relating to recent developments involving Iran” have allegedly been booked under the PSA and lodged in jails outside Jammu & Kashmir, Ms. Mehbooba said such actions are “deeply troubling and risk further alienating the youth”. She said the use of “harsh laws” against young people, particularly during the sacred month of Muharram, is both “insensitive and counterproductive”.

“Muharram is a time when people mourn and remember the sacrifices made in Karbala. It is a period of reflection, compassion and solidarity with those who suffer. At such a sensitive moment, the government should be engaging with its people, listening to their concerns and healing wounds rather than adding to their pain through punitive measures,” she said.

Ms. Mehbooba urged the administration to immediately review all such cases, release those detained and refrain from further coercive measures. She stressed that dialogue and engagement remain the most effective means of addressing public sentiment and grievances.