The Jammu and Kashmir authorities have denied permission for prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar for the seventh consecutive year, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.
Since 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was abrogated, the authorities have not allowed the Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the Jamia Masjid — the biggest mosque in the region. Jamia Masjid traditionally attracts thousands of devotees for prayers during major Muslim festivals.
The J&K police and home department, which comes under the control of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, did not issue any statement on the restriction.
Mirwaiz slammed the administration’s move drawing a parallel with restrictions at the Masjid al-Aqsa saying a “similar painful reality” was being witnessed in Kashmir.
“On the last Friday of holy Ramzan, when tens of thousands gather from towns and villages for prayers and supplication at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, its gates have once again been locked from all sides,” Mirwaiz who is also the chairman of Hurriyat Conference said on X.
He said for seventh consecutive year, authorities had denied permission to Muslims to offer prayers at the mosque on the occasion.
“As Israel has forcibly shut the gates of Masjid al-Aqsa during Ramzan, similar painful reality is witnessed here. Our hearts bleed. Shame on those who lock the houses of Allah against the faithful,” he added.
As per the programme, Mirwaiz was scheduled to address the faithful at the Jamia Masjid at 12:45 pm, followed by the congregational Friday prayers scheduled at 2:20 pm.
