SRINAGAR — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday said that Eid-ul-Adha prayers were barred at Eidgah, and the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was locked down for the seventh consecutive year.
He added that he has also been detained at his home.
“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,” he said in a post on X.
“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!” the post added.
“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,” the post further said.
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, while interacting with the media after offering Eid namaz, also expressed concern over the restrictions.
“I regret that once again Eid namaz was not allowed at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid. I am not aware on what basis such decisions are taken. We will have to trust our people someday,” he said.