Eid prayers barred at Srinagar’s Jamia masjid for fifth consecutive year, Mirwaiz detained
Srinagar: In what Kashmiri people decry as blatant interference in religious matters, the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was once again prohibited from hosting congregational Eid prayers, and its head cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was placed under house detention on Eid day.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, authorities locked the gates of the grand mosque on Wednesday morning, preventing worshippers from entering for Eid prayers. Additionally, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, scheduled to deliver the Eid sermon, was placed under house arrest.
This marks the fifth consecutive year of the Modi regime in India disallowing Eid prayers at the Jamia Masjid and placing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest. The act has incited anger among Kashmiri Muslims, who denounce it as an infringement on religious freedoms.
The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the managing body of the mosque, condemned the authorities’ actions, stating that they were denied access to their largest place of worship without any written explanation. This move is seen as a distressing violation of the Muslim community’s religious rights.
The prohibition of Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid and the house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have sparked widespread condemnation, shedding light on the ongoing tensions and restrictions faced by the Muslim community in the region.
