A day after prayers were barred at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid on the last Friday of Ramazan, Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, criticised elected representatives, including the Chief Minister, for remaining silent on the issue.
Expressing his anguish over the restrictions, Mirwaiz said it was unfortunate that those claiming to represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament and the Assembly have chosen to remain silent.
“It is unfortunate that those who call themselves elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, whether in Parliament or the Assembly, including the Chief Minister, choose to remain silent, displaying utter insensitivity towards the sentiments and fundamental rights of the people, when the Valley’s central place of worship is repeatedly locked by force and people are denied access even on important religious occasions,” Mirwaiz told reporters after a religious function in Srinagar.
He said these representatives should do justice to their office and stand up to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people in whatever manner they can.
Mirwaiz’s criticism came even as the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir does not control law and order, which falls under the direct authority of the Lieutenant Governor.
On Friday, authorities closed the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and placed Mirwaiz under house arrest, preventing him from delivering the sermon and leading prayers on Jumat-ul-Vida. This marked the seventh consecutive year that prayers were blocked at the mosque on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan.
Mirwaiz, who is also the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, also expressed deep concern over the rapidly developing situation in the Middle East.
“In clear violation of all international law, United States and Israeli aggression are pushing the region towards a dangerous and destructive path as an independent country is being invaded, its civilian infrastructure targeted and innocent lives lost while the international community and institutions, including the United Nations, are unable to control their arbitrariness,” he said
