Srinagar, June 7 (UNI) Authorities on Saturday disallowed Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in old city and also put Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said here.

The managing committee of the Jamia mosque affairs said the authorities once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at Eidgah Srinagar, as well as at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside.

Traditionally, the congregational Eid prayers are offered at Eidgah.

“Even the Fajr prayers this morning were not permitted at Jama Masjid as the gates remained locked,” the statement said, adding” Miwaiz has also been placed under house arrest.”

In a post on X, Mirwaiz who is also the Hurriyat chairman said it is for the seventh year in a row that Eid prayers were disallowed at Jamia. The Eid prayers have been barred at Jama Masjid and Eidgah by the authorities since 2019.

“Eid Mubarak! Yet again, Kashmir wakes up to the sad reality: no Eid prayers at Eidgah, and Jama Masjid locked down — for the 7th straight year. I too have been detained at my home,” Mirwaiz said.

“In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray — even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again,” he added.

The authorities didn’t respond to the claims made by the Anjuman.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was deeply concerned about the denial of Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid.

He questioned the authority of those making this decision.

“I have no information on what basis such a decision is taken. But one day we will have to trust our people. They are the same people who after the April 22 (Pahalgam terror attack) came out and expressed their anger and condemned the act. …But today, once again, the Eid prayers were not allowed at historic Jamia …I feel that the government should think again at some point,” Omar told media in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the Eid prayers were held across the valley and the largest congregation was held at Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal lake.

Officials said Eid prayers were held peacefully across Valley.

UNI MJR PRS