SRINAGAR: Authorities on Friday again disallowed the weekly congregational prayers at the grand mosque in downtown Srinagar, a spokesman of the Anjuman Auqaf said.
In a statement, the spokesman said that Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has strongly reacted to the imposition of restrictions on the largest place of worship and spiritual centre of Jammu and Kashmir, Jama Masjid Srinagar, thereby preventing the Muslims to perform important duties as Friday prayers, terming the move by authorities as deplorable and reprehensible.
The Anjuman in a statement said: “Today, once again in the morning, the authorities and the police locked the main gate of the Central Jama Masjid and prevented the locals and the people having come from various parts of the Valley to perform their Friday prayers at their beloved mosque.”
Expressing concern over the policies pursued by the authorities towards the Central Jama Masjid, the Anjuman said that all records of forcible closure of the grand mosque have been broken.
“It said the people are being deprived of all the rights including religious rights by force which is a cause of great uneasiness and anxiety for the Muslims of Kashmir,” said Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar.
In the statement, the Anjuman expressed strong resentment against the continuous illegal detention of its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been under house arrest since August 5, 2019, and said the topmost religious leader of Kashmir should be released so that he resumes his official responsibilities and peaceful activities.
“The continued imprisonment of the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir is unacceptable to all sections of the people,” the Anjuman said, adding that this dire situation is an eye-opener and a moment of introspection for all those who believe in human rights and democratic values
The Anjuman demanded immediate reopening of Jama Masjid Srinagar for Friday prayers and an end to the detention of the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir without any further delay.
