The Jamia Masjid has rarely been closed for Friday prayers in the last six decades. But in the last three years, the siege of grand mosque has become more of a norm. Haroon Mirani reports.
A siege of the Jamia Masjid Srinagar on Fridays has become more of a norm now. For five weeks in a row police has prevented people from assembling for the Friday prayers at the central mosque, which n.s holds the biggest Friday congregation in Valley. With separatists usually calling for protests on Fridays, authorities impose curfew like restrictions in most of the interior Srinagar.
The practise has created resentment among people, who see the restriction as infringement of religious freedom.
Last week Friday prayers could not be offered at the Khanqah-i-Muallah either. Chief cleric and Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not allowed to offer prayers at Jamia Masjid on the occasion of Shab-i-Baraat.
While barring people Friday prayers is an emotive issue for Muslims, the overwhelming political turmoil in the Valley has kept if off the centre stage. However, the clergy, angry over the frequent curbs is warning government of serious repercussions.
“Jamia Masjid has always been the centre of resistance in Kashmir and it has been dream of government to break this resistance,” said Mirwaiz Umar. “It seems to be part of a plan wherein they feel that by putting curbs on the religious rights of the people, they will make people forget the freedom movement.”
Mirwaiz terms it as an attempt to control the biggest mosque of the state. “Lakhs of people worship here and the government feels that it doesn’t have enough control on them so these tactics of locking the Jamia Masjid is part of conspiracy to control it,” said Mirwaiz. “Almost all other such mosques are controlled by government and Jamia Masjid being an exception is not digested by them.”
While referring to other mosques in Kashmir, Mirwaiz says that have been controlled by the government for long. “In these religious institutions not a single word about the movement of Kashmir is being allowed as everything is controlled strictly,” said Mirwaiz. “Now they want to similarly stifle the voice at Jamia Masjid too. It is a conspiracy to lessen the central importance of Jamia Masjid.”
Mirwaiz, however says, the move won’t do any good to the government. “They are living in fool’s paradise if they think that they can make the resistance disappear by curbing movement on Jamia Masjid,” said Mirwaiz. “It will in turn fuel more rage and people are getting more and more angry.”
History
The latest trend of closing Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers started during the Amarnath land row agitation in 2008, under governor N N Vohra agitation. For weeks, (seven in a row once) Friday prayers were not offered at the Jamia Masjid.
According to Grand Mufti of Kashmir Mufti Bashirudin, Jamia Masjid used to be locked up for a long time before 1947. “After 1947 too sometimes Jamia Masjid was closed sometimes but that was a rare occasion and that too for just one or two days,” said Mufti. “This time it is becoming too much as the Jamia Masjid is being continuously closed down for religious activities.”
Mirwaiz is aghast that government has stooped low to such a level by taking measures in this Muslim majority state. “Even at the peak of militancy Jamia Masjid was not closed down. Even during curfews people were allowed to pray their but now they are altogether locking it down,” said Mirwaiz. “It is part of a big conspiracy to hamper the free religious movement of Kashmiris.”
Jamia Masjid has seen the worst sieges during the Sikh era after Kashmir fell to Ranjit Singh’s forces in 1819. The Sikhs after defeating Afghans entered Kashmir and indulged in a free loot. “Jamia Masjid was shut up under the plea that it afforded accommodation for some 60 thousand persons. While assembling there, it was apprehended that they would find opportunities for meeting together and planning against the Sikh rule,” writes RK Parimoo in his book History of Sikhs in Kashmir. “Then Azan or call for prayer was prohibited. It was followed by placing cow-slaughter under a ban.” reads the book.
Warning
Mirwaiz warned that the government continues to bar prayers at the grand mosque, it will turn into a big issue. He has asked all the Imams and Muftis to come together on this issue. “Already Mufti Bashirudin has asked government to lift curfew and restrictions,” said Mirwaiz.
He accused government of pushing people to the extreme. “When Masjids are banned Jehad becomes mandatory for people,” said Mirwaiz. “Under such circumstances a Mufti can issue a decree asking people to declare war on the state.”
He warns government to not to push people to the extreme. “Government should see into this issue logically and not just go on clamping curfews and restricting the movement of the people,” said Mirwaiz.
According to Mufti, the situation can have dangerous repercussions. “In such a scenario the Shariah asks people to follow the orders of Grand Mufti of the region. Whatever he tells should be fulfilled by the people,” said Mufti. “If the curfew is not lifted I will ask people to come out on roads by defying curfew and other restrictions to offer Nimaz in the Jamia Masjid.”
Mufti said that Islam is very strict when prayers and mosques are banned. “Shariah asks people to show stiff resistance to get their religious rights,” said Mufti while pleading the government to let people pray at Jamia without any hindrance. “We are not going to create problems for them (Govt) in case they just lift the curfew and allow us to offer prayers freely,” warned Mufti.
He lashed out at government for putting curbs on religious rights in the name of law and order. “In the name of maintaining law and order, it is unfortunate that government is putting curbs on religious gathering,” said Mufti. “Actually Jamia Masjid is being made to suffer for the politics.”
He says that religion and politics should not be mixed. “The two (politics and religion) must be separated from each other and one should not bring in the elements of one into another,” said Mufti. “I appeal to people as well as government to make a distinction between the two.”
Mufti has threatened of severe reaction from people, in case the siege is not lifted. “I have already communicated to government to lift the curfew so that people are allowed to offer Namaz freely in various mosques especially in Jamia Masjid,” said Mufti.
But the government is yet to respond to Mufti’s request.
Sheikh Showkat, a legal expert says that the restrictions on prayers at Jamia Masjid are put under Article 25 of Indian constitution. “Under this article there are three to four grounds wherein the religious activities can be restricted,” said Showkat. “But the condition which comes with it is that the article cannot be used arbitrarily.”
Showkat says that the government is using these powers absolutely and consistently which goes against the spirit of constitution and right to religious freedom.
