Decades-long Ban Lifted: Muharram Procession Returns to Kashmir's Streets
Shia Muslims in Indian-held Kashmir held a major religious procession for the first time in 33 years, after a ban was lifted. The ban was imposed in 1990 following an armed revolt against Indian rule. The procession, marking the month of Muharram, was the largest in a generation and was allowed to proceed after negotiations between officials and clerics. While the event concluded peacefully, authorities had imposed conditions, including a prohibition on anti-national slogans or references to rebel groups. Critics argue that civil liberties have been curtailed in the region, with ongoing restrictions on journalists, public protests, and religious worship.