Srinagar: Prominent religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remains under house detention as authorities continue to keep Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid closed for congregational prayers, Mirwaiz said in a statement on Friday.
Despite the significance of Juma-Tul-Vida, the last Friday of Ramadan, worshippers were once again barred from offering prayers at the grand mosque.
In a statement, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the restrictions, questioning why Kashmir’s central place of worship was repeatedly targeted despite official claims of normalcy. “On this blessed Friday, when lakhs of people eagerly wait the whole year to offer congregational prayers, the mosque remains shut, and I continue to be under house detention,” he said, calling it a violation of religious freedom.
The closure of Jamia Masjid during major Islamic occasions has been a recurring issue, drawing criticism from various quarters. Mirwaiz urged authorities to address what he called a “gross injustice” toward Kashmiri Muslims and their fundamental rights.
Authorities have yet to respond to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s statement. The repeated restrictions have fueled concerns over the curbing of religious freedoms in Kashmir, with many questioning the justification behind such measures.
