Srinagar: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has expressed strong resentment over the decision by authorities to once again disallow Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar for the 20th straight week.
While condemning the ‘police action’, the Auqaf said in a statement said that it is unable to understand that on the one hand, all the places of worship, mosques, shrines, Imambargahs, and Khanqahs in Jammu and Kashmir are open for Friday prayers, but only Jama Masjid Srinagar continues to be ‘selectively’ banned and restricted from holding Friday prayers, which is ‘extremely unfortunate and incomprehensible’.
This behaviour of the rulers is ‘tantamount to sheer interference’ in religion and hurting the religious sentiments and feelings of Muslims, which is unacceptable, the Auqaf said.
“Due to the continuous closure of the grand mosque, there is hurt and anger among the people from all walks of life including men, women, and elderly people who want to come to the Jama Masjid to perform important duties such as Friday prayers. They see this attitude of the rulers as utterly offensive and vindictive, the statement added.
The Auqaf has also expressed strong resentment against the continuous incarceration of its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who continues to be under ‘illegal and arbitrary’ house arrest since 5 August 2019 saying it is extremely ‘unfortunate and unacceptable’ for all sections of the people to prevent the topmost religious leader of Kashmir from discharging his official duties and carrying out his peaceful activities as the Mirwaiz, the statement ends.
Free Press Kashmir is now on Telegram. Click here to Join.
FPK Android App for 2G. Click here to Download.
