Kashmiris deprived of true Eid joy under Indian occupation
Modi govt continues to deny IIOJK Muslims religious freedom: KMS report
Islamabad: People in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are observing yet another Eid under the shadow of Indian guns and bayonets. Kashmiris remain deprived of the true spirit of Eid amid continued Indian military oppression and restrictions.
A report released today by Kashmir Media Service (KMS) on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr said that arbitrary cordon and, search operations, raids, and harassment have made life unbearable for Muslims in IIOJK, who have been denied the real happiness of Eid for the past 78 years. Since the BJP-led Hindutva government stripped the territory of its special status in August 2019, Kashmiris were deprived not only of political and economic rights but also of their religious freedoms.
The occupying administration routinely seals the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, barring worshippers from offering Friday prayers. Today, for the eighth consecutive year, the grand mosque was locked, denying Kashmiri Muslims the right to offer Eid prayers.
The report highlighted that India, despite claiming to be a democratic country, is trampling its own democratic principles by curbing Kashmiris’ religious rights. The Modi government is systematically targeting the Muslim identity of Jammu and Kashmir, working systematically to erase religious and cultural identity, and impose the Hindutva ideology.
The report also noted that the BJP government is promoting Hindu customs and rituals through cultural and recreational programs in IIOJK. It seeks to fully control Eidgahs, mosques, and other religious sites, as part of a deliberate plan to undermine the Muslim identity of the territory. The Kashmiri Muslim students are being forced to sing Hindu bhajans and participate in Hindu rituals—par of an orchestrated attempt to reshape the territory’s demographic and cultural landscape.
Despite these measures, the report said, Kashmiris remain resolute in preserving their identity, heritage, and culture. Though their celebrations under Indian occupation remain subdued, their resolve to achieve freedom and truly celebrate Eid remains unshaken. Even under hardships and suffering, they continue their struggle with courage and determination, confident that freedom from Indian occupation will ultimately be achieved.
