Friday prayers disallowed at Jama Masjid for 8th straight week

Undue restrictions on Mirwaiz seriously hurt people’s sentiments: Auqaf

Srinagar, Dec 01  : Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid today reiterated its concern and resentment against disallowing Friday prayers at the largest place of worship in Kashmir – the historic Central Jama Masjid, Srinagar – for the eighth consecutive Friday, and also against the house detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, who was not allowed to carry out his religious duties.

The centuries-old pulpit and mihrab of the grand mosque have been silent for the eighth consecutive Friday, the Auqaf said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

Such hostile acts by the administration are not only tantamount to interference in religious affairs but also seriously hurt the feelings and sentiments of the people, it added.

“People have a deep religious and emotional attachment to the Jama Masjid Srinagar and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, and disallowing prayers here severely hurts their sentiments. Placing restrictions on Mirwaiz Sahib amounts to denying him religious freedom. As the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, he has a lot of responsibilities towards people and society but the administration is not allowing him to carry out his duties,” the Auqaf said.

“Frequent undue restrictions on Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir are a matter of serious concern for both Anjuman as well as people, especially the thousands of devotees from various parts of the valley who throng the Jama Masjid Srinagar every Friday but have to return deeply disappointed and with heavy hearts,” the statement added.

In view of these facts, the administration must remove undue restrictions on the Jama Masjid Srinagar and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the Auqaf said—(KNO)