SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Anjuman Auqaf said that the people have a deep religious and emotional attachment to the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and disallowing prayers here severely hurts their sentiments.
Anjuman alao expressed strong resentment against the administration for disallowing Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar also against the house detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, who was not allowed to carry out his religious duties.
Anjuman’s statement came after the Jammu and Kashmir administration did not allow the Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid for the eighth consecutive week.
“The centuries-old pulpit and mihrab of the grand mosque have been silent for the eighth consecutive Friday,” Anjuman Auqaf, the management body of the Jamia Masjid said in a statement.
“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 statement said.
“Placing restrictions on Mirwaiz Sahib amounts to denying him religious freedom. As the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, he has a lot of responsibilities towards people and society but the administration is not allowing him to carry out his duties,” the statement said.
“Frequent undue restrictions on Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir are a matter of serious concern for both Anjuman as well as people, especially the thousands of devotees from various parts of the valley who throng the Jama Masjid Srinagar every Friday but have to return deeply disappointed and with heavy hearts,” the statement said.
“In view of these facts, the administration must remove undue restrictions on the Jama Masjid Srinagar and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the statement said. — (KIMS)