Srinagar: For the third consecutive Friday, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the spiritual leader of Kashmir, was once again prevented from attending prayers at the historic Jama Masjid, the head cleric posted on his X handle this afternoon.
Despite the bone-chilling cold, thousands of devotees from across the valley, including the elderly, women, children, and the physically challenged, gathered outside the mosque in anticipation of the weekly sermon, their hearts filled with affection and devotion to hear the word of God, he said.
In a statement, the Mirwaiz expressed deep hurt and disappointment over the authorities’ actions, asserting that the use of ‘brute force’ against peaceful worshippers was not only unjust but also heartless.
He highlighted the emotional pain caused to the people of Kashmir, including the families of the faithful, as well as to him personally. The Mirwaiz condemned the continuous restrictions, which, he said, were impervious to the grief inflicted upon the Muslim community in the region.
