The managing body of the Jamia Masjid on Friday alleged that the authorities did not allow Friday prayers at the mosque for the ninth consecutive week.
They said the chief cleric of the mosque Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also put under house detention.
The Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar said they were informed by the police authorities early morning today to close all the doors of the grand mosque and not to open it for Friday prayers.
“The disallowing of prayers for the consecutive 9th Friday in the historic central Jamia Masjid here is unjustified,” Anjuman said in a statement.
The Anjuman also expressed resentment against placing Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir under house detention for the ninth consecutive Friday and disallowing him from performing Friday prayers, saying that such “restrictions” are not only unjustified but there is also no reason for such an arbitrary act.
“Such hostile acts by the administration are not only tantamount to interference in religious affairs but also seriously hurt the feelings and sentiments of the people,” the Auqaf said.
“People have deep religious and emotional attachment to the Jama Masjid Srinagar and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, and disallowing prayers here severely hurts their sentiments,” the statement said.
“Such behaviour of the government is not only unfortunate in every sense but also reveals its vindictive policy, the statement said, adding that silencing the mimbar and mihrab of the Jama Masjid without any excuse is tantamount to snatching the religious freedom of the people here.”
Since October 13, the Friday prayers have not been allowed at Jamia mosque as authorities apprehend that there could be protests in support of Palestine.
