SRINAGAR: Authorities in Srinagar on Wednesday once again denied permission for Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah ground and Jama Masjid in the old city, extending restrictions at the two key religious sites for the eighth consecutive year.
The decision has been taken in the backdrop of ongoing security and administrative measures surrounding major religious congregations, with access to prominent prayer venues curtailed during Eid.
Reacting to the development, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said he was placed under house arrest on Eid day and prevented from leaving his residence for prayers. In a post on X, he said Muslims in Kashmir had been consistently denied the opportunity to offer Eid prayers at the two historic sites for eight consecutive years.
For the 8th consecutive year, Muslims of Kashmiris have been denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah/Jama Masjid, and I have been placed under house arrest. On the revered and celebratory occasion of Eid , Muslims of Kashmir are greeted with barricades,… pic.twitter.com/m2NgXGlLyS
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) May 27, 2026
He stated that the community had been “denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah/Jama Masjid” and added that his own movement was restricted through house arrest.
The Mirwaiz said Eid in Kashmir was increasingly being observed under a climate of restrictions and security controls rather than communal worship. He alleged that worshippers are routinely confronted with barricades, locked gates and other curbs during the festive occasion.
He described the situation as deeply distressing, calling it a “systematic assault” on religious identity, dignity and fundamental rights.
He further expressed concern over the impact of prolonged restrictions on younger generations, saying many children were growing up without the experience of Eid prayers at Eidgah, a long-standing tradition in the region.
According to him, this has deprived youth of forming cultural and spiritual associations with Eid gatherings.
The Mirwaiz reiterated that faith cannot be suppressed through force, stressing that the religious identity of the people of Kashmir remains firmly rooted.
He further remarked that no authority could erase the spiritual connection people share with Eidgah, Jama Masjid and other religious institutions.
