Mohammad Farooq Shah

Moulvi farooq was born on 21 December 1944 (27th Dhu al-Hijjah 1363 AH) in Srinagar.^[3] He belonged to the influential clerical family that held the traditional title of Mirwaiz of Kashmir. He received his early education at home and later enrolled at Islamia and Oriental College, studying theology, Islam and Arabic language and literature.

In 1968, following the death of his uncle, Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah, he succeeded to the position of Mirwaiz of Kashmir.^[3][4] As head preacher of the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, he delivered sermons and held religious authority in Kashmir Valley.

At the age of 19, Shah emerged as a leader during the agitation over the disappearance of the relic from Hazratbal 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 of Kashmiri 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 to SKIMS, Soura, where he was declared dead.^[3] His funeral procession passed through the Hawal 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 the Hawal massacre.^[6][7][8][9]

In 2010, a militant of the Hizbul 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.

• Jamia Masjid, Srinagar
• All Parties Hurriyat Conference