KL Report
SRINAGAR
In a significant development the makers of the list of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims for the year 2014/15 by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Jordan has included the name of Kashmir’s chief cleric and chairman Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq among the most influential Muslim leaders in the world.
According to spokesman, the 500 most influential muslims have been put in 13 categories of influence namely Scholars, Politicians, Administrators of Religious Affairs, Preachers and Spiritual Guides, Philanthropists/Charity and Development, Social Issues, Business, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture, Media, Celebrities and Sports Stars etc.
As per the list, among the 10 most influential politicians from the Muslim world for the year 2014/2015, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was listed at the 8th number.
From scientists, to artists, to kings, “The Muslim 500” list of the world’s most influential Muslims was released this week. It includes such names as King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia,Professor Dr Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University, Grand Imam of the Al Azhar,Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran,Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey,Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan – Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and others. Prominent personalities from South Asia include APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr. Zakir Naik, Imran Khan, Malala Yousufzai.
The report quotes “Dr Farooq inherited the 14th Mirwaiz (Kashmiri term for traditional preacher of Muslims in Kashmir) in 1990 at the age of 17 after the assassination of his father. At the young age of 20 he became chairman and founder of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a grassroots coalition of pro-freedom parties in Jammu & Kashmir. He has raised the Kashmiri problem at the UN, the EU parliament and the IOC advocating dialogue with both India and Pakistan so that the aspirations of the Kashmiri people may be realized,” reads page no 120 of the list titled as The Muslim 500.
It adds “pertinently, Mirwaiz is considered the more moderate of Kashmiri separatist leaders, always been at the forefront of anti-India politics in Kashmir. Presently Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is the house-hold name in Kashmir, Mirwaiz holds many designations which includes, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, President Mutahida Majlis Ulama, Patron Nusratul Islam, Chairman Awami Action Committee and Patron Darul Khair. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has a credit to become the founder chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in 1993.”
The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought is an international Islamic non-governmental, independent institute headquartered in Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
