Dr Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq, the 14th Mirwaiz of Kashmir, inherited his father’s mantle in 1990 at age 17 following the assassination of his father. By 20, he had founded and became Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a coalition of pro-freedom parties in Jammu and Kashmir. Throughout his career, he has been a persistent advocate for the Kashmiri people, raising their plight at the United Nations, the European Parliament, and the International Olympic Committee, while promoting dialogue with both India and Pakistan to achieve a peaceful resolution. After being placed under house arrest in August 2019 amid political upheaval in the region, Dr Farooq was allowed to leave in September 2023. Farooq remains a key voice for Kashmiri aspirations, bridging religious leadership with active engagement in human rights and regional diplomacy.