Srinagar, Mar 28 (UNI) After disallowing night long prayers on Shab-e-Qadr, Srinagar’s historic Jamia mosque remained closed for Ramadan’s last Friday prayers, the chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.

Mirwaiz said that he has also been placed under house detention.

“After Shab-e-Qadr, Jama Masjid Srinagar continues to remain closed to people and I under house detention, even today on Juma-Tul-Vida, when lakhs of people eagerly await the whole year to offer congregational prayers on this blessed Friday for great reward and blessing from Allah,” Mirwaiz said on X while sharing pics of videos of shut grand mosque.
He further questioned the repeated restrictions on religious practices in Kashmir.

“ Want to ask the authorities why is this most important centre of Kashmir’s religious identity and affinity repeatedly targeted and peoples fundamental right to religious practice curbed, when tall claims of normalcy are trumpeted every day? Those ruling in peoples name cannot absolve themselves from standing up to address this gross injustice towards Muslims of the valley and the repeated closure of #JamaMasjid,” he added.

On Thursday evening, Mirwaiz said that authorities had denied permission for night-long prayers at the grand mosque on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr. The decision sparked widespread condemnation.

So far, district authorities and the police have not issued any statements regarding the restrictions on prayers at Jamia Masjid. The Jammu and Kashmir Police operate directly under the command of the Lt Governor, not an elected government.

In February, the police had also barred Shab-e-Barat prayers at Jamia Masjid, triggering outrage. Even former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed criticism of the decision.


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