SRINAGAR: Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has condemned the continued closure of Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid on Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of Ramadan, calling it an “injustice towards Muslims” and a violation of religious freedom.
Taking to social media platform X, Mirwaiz, who has been under house arrest since Thursday evening, questioned the authorities over the restrictions imposed on congregational prayers at Kashmir’s largest mosque.
“After Shab-e-Qadr, Jamia Masjid Srinagar continues to remain closed to people, and I am under house detention, even today on Jumat-ul-Vida, when lakhs of people eagerly await the whole year to offer congregational prayers on this blessed Friday for great reward and blessing from Allah,” Mirwaiz wrote in his post.
He accused the administration of repeatedly targeting the central mosque and restricting fundamental religious rights, despite claims of normalcy in the region.
“Why is this most important centre of Kashmir’s religious identity and affinity repeatedly targeted and people’s fundamental right to religious practice curbed, when tall claims of normalcy are trumpeted every day?” he questioned.
Mirwaiz further urged those in power to take responsibility for addressing what he described as “a gross injustice towards Muslims of the valley” and called for an end to the repeated closure of Jamia Masjid.
Authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the restrictions on Friday prayers at the mosque, which has witnessed repeated closures in recent years, often coinciding with major religious occasions.
During the Shab-e-Qadr, the mosque was locked for the prayers.
