Authorities have barred the congregational night prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat (night of salvation) for the seventh consecutive year, while Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house detention.
The Anjuman Auqaf of the Jamia Masjid, which manages the mosque, said shortly after Asr ( afternoon) prayers on Tuesday, they were directed by the police to close the gates of the mosque as permission to observe Shab-e-Barat had been denied by the authorities.
“The Auqaf was asked to ensure that the premises remain closed for the night despite prior preparations for the sacred observance,” the Anjuman Auqaf said in a statement.
It expressed deep regret that, once again, congregational prayers on an important religious occasion could not be held at the Jamia Masjid and that the Mirwaiz had been placed under house arrest.
“This continues a pattern since 2019 where major religious gatherings at the historic mosque are not allowed. This amounts to a blatant interference in the religious rights of the people,” the Anjuman Auqaf said.
The closure of the grand mosque on Shab-e-Baraat triggered criticism from Mirwaiz, who questioned official claims of improved normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, Mirwaiz said as mosques across the region light up in devotion on this sacred night, Jamia Masjid Srinagar stays shut under watch.
“Yet another closure, and I remain detained at home. Shab-e-Baraat joins a long list since 2019 when prayers at the Valley’s largest mosque have been stopped by force. No reason offered, just locked gates and silence,” he said. “For those who beat the drums of ‘Normalcy’ and ‘Naya Kashmir,’ this contrast needs an explanation.”
The Jammu and Kashmir police, which is under the control of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, did not comment on barring congregational night prayers at the Jamia mosque on Shab-e-Baraat.
