Srinagar: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has once again condemned the administration for forcibly imposing restrictions on Friday prayers at the historic Central Jama Masjid on the auspicious and blessed occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, terming it extremely sad and unfortunate. Shab-e-Qadr prayers were also not allowed last night at the grand mosque.
The Anjuman in a statement said that on the blessed occasions of Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Vida, people from nook and corner of the valley throng the Jama Masjid Srinagar to offer prayers, seek spiritual elevation and benefit from the sermon of the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, who although is under arbitrary house arrest since 5 August 2019. However, unfortunately, the authorities once again demonstrated their dictatorship and not only interfered in religious affairs but also hurt the religious sentiments of the people, it said.
The statement said that all sections of the people – elders, women and youth – were outraged over the regrettable practice of repeatedly closing the historic Jama Masjid by the authorities on various pretexts. The people are expressing strong resentment over such behaviour of the administration because the Jama Masjid is being time and again closed under a well-thought-out conspiracy to weaken its centrality.
Meanwhile Imams and Khateebs across the valley’s mosques, shrines and imambarahs expressed deep regret over the ban on Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Vida at the Jama Masjid Srinagar and the three-year-long detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq and strongly condemned this dictatorial attitude of the authorities.