Srinagar, May 18 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of Hurriyat forum, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has strongly denounced the authorities for imposing restrictions in downtown areas of Srinagar and disallowing people from offering Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday in a tweet said, “In the holy month of Ramadan also, the biggest mosque of valley is locked down and put under siege. Thousands of Muslims are denied the right to pray there. Such measures reflect the ruler’s utter disdain for people’s religious rights or hurting their sentiments which is very sad.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the forum in a statement also denounced the move and said that sealing the historic Jamia Masjid on the eve of the commencement of Ashra-e-Magfirat of sacred month of Ramadan was blatant interference in religious affairs.
“The grand mosque being the spiritual center, people from all over Kashmir would reach the Jamia Masjid early on Friday morning particularly during Ramadhan, recite Quran and later participate in the congregational Friday prayers to seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah. However, unfortunately the present administration sealed it even on the sacred occasion of second Friday of holy month and it deserves all forms of condemnation,” the spokesman said.