Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 14: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday expressed solidarity with Iran and urged the Central Government to revisit its policy toward the country, citing historical and cultural links between Kashmir and Iran.

Addressing the media, Mufti said a meeting of PDP leaders and former legislators passed a resolution supporting Iran and praised people in Kashmir for holding peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with the Iranian populace. She also appealed to citizens to pray for the people of Iran and the broader Muslim Ummah.

“We have a deep civilisational and spiritual link between the two regions. Muslim countries should support Iran since conflicts and wars disturb global economic stability,” she said, highlighting the historical connection, noting that Islam reached Kashmir through Iran.

Mufti also called on Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to reconsider the detention of individuals who participated in protests against Israel and demanded the release of those still in custody.

Referring to the recent release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, she welcomed the decision but emphasised that preventive detention should not have been imposed in the first place, given Wangchuk’s work on environmental protection.

She also mentioned jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, noting that while some individuals can access courts to seek relief, many economically weaker prisoners lack the means to fight legal battles and deserve attention and justice.

Earlier this week, Mehbooba Mufti visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book mourning the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on February 28.