According to the Anjuman Aquaf Jamia Masjid, prayers at Kashmir's largest place of worship have been forbidden for several weeks, despite devotees fully observing COVID-19 SOPs.
For the 13th Friday in a row, no congregational prayers were performed at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, which is Kashmir valley's grand mosque.
Last Friday, the Auqaf Jamia Masjid declared that prayers will be held after claiming that the government had given its clearance.
However, eyewitnesses said that the prayers were not offered because officials had sealed the mosque's main gate and stationed armed forces personnel in front of it.
‘Despite following COVID-19 SOPs, worshippers barred to pray’
Despite the fact that worshipers are strictly following COVID-19 SOPs, prayers at Kashmir's biggest place of worship have been prohibited for the past many weeks, according to the Anjuman Aquaf Jamia Masjid.
Anjuman Aquaf claimed in a statement that state officials refused to allow congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar once again as the security forces had been deployed in the vicinity since early Friday morning.
"When Auqaf staff opened the mosque gates in the morning, soldiers halted them and told them that prayer would not be permitted today," it said.
However, one member of the Aquaf, while wishing not to be identified, said, “Our own staff is more than 25, so how do the authorities believe that we can pray with just 25 worshippers in this grand mosque?”
He added that it was impossible for the prayers to take place in the present circumstances.
Jamia Masjid Srinagar had been closed citing COVID-19 pandemic
Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the valley, shrines and mosques including Jamia Masjid Srinagar and Dargah Hazratbal Shrine were previously closed.
However, after four months of being closed to prayers owing to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, congregational prayers were allowed at the Jamia Masjid.
Soon afterwards, the mosque was again closed by the authorities, citing the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the union territory.
Jamia Masjid’s frequent, purposeful closure extremely condemnable: Anjuman Auqaf
According to Anjuman Auqaf, the authorities' frequent and purposeful closure of the central Jama Masjid for Friday prayers is extremely condemnable.
The Muslims of the valley decry this injustice and interference with their religious commitments in the harshest words possible and express their outrage, according to the Anjuman.
People question administration’s ‘dual policy’
Meanwhile, residents have complained that the administration's 'dual policy' is perplexing because, on the one hand, it has closed worship places and hasn’t reopened educational institutions, while, on the other hand, tourist resorts are open and the administration and political parties are holding functions, sports tournaments, and other Melas (grand gatherings) in the valley.
“Irony is that, on the one hand, all concerns about Covid are ignored when it comes participation in official functions, while restrictions are imposed on Friday prayers where Covid SOPs are fully followed,” a devotee, Mohammad Ramzan, said.
“Devotees’ gathering viewed as a ‘threat’ to peace”
Ramzan, the 40-year-old resident of Srinagar, who lives in the grand mosque’s vicinity, claimed the authorities view the gathering of devotees as a "threat" to peace. “This is the fear, I feel, the authorities have and therefore, it won’t end soon,” he lamented.
“Every time, the only focus of security officials is the Jamia Masjid, which is the largest mosque in a Muslim-majority region. It has been put under curbs for months now," the devotee said.
Javed Ahmad, another devotee, said, “The constitution protects our right to practice our faith. However, it is repeatedly violated in Kashmir.”
As per him, previously the ‘excuse’ of a pandemic was used to discourage Muslims from praying at Jamia Masjid on Fridays. “Today, with the public places opening fully and the closure of Jamia continuing, the administration is entirely exposed,” he expressed.
Mirwaiz Umar also under detention for 28 consecutive months
It is pertinent to mention here that the authorities have not ended the detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, the head of Anjuman Auqaf and Chairman of All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
Mirwaiz Umar has been under house arrest for the past 28 months (since the abrogation of J-K’s special status).
Apart from his other obligations, Mirwaiz Umar had a centuries-old duty as the Mirwaizeen-e-Kashmir of preaching Qaal Allah Wa Qaala Rasool (SAW), according to the Anjuman.
The Anjuman wishes that the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir would be able to perform his official obligations from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid and opening the grand mosque fully for the devotees.
https://www.digpu.com/india-news/devotees-outraged-over-continuous-closure-of-jamia-masjid-srinagar
For the 13th Friday in a row, no congregational prayers were performed at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, which is Kashmir valley's grand mosque.
Last Friday, the Auqaf Jamia Masjid declared that prayers will be held after claiming that the government had given its clearance.
However, eyewitnesses said that the prayers were not offered because officials had sealed the mosque's main gate and stationed armed forces personnel in front of it.
‘Despite following COVID-19 SOPs, worshippers barred to pray’
Despite the fact that worshipers are strictly following COVID-19 SOPs, prayers at Kashmir's biggest place of worship have been prohibited for the past many weeks, according to the Anjuman Aquaf Jamia Masjid.
Anjuman Aquaf claimed in a statement that state officials refused to allow congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar once again as the security forces had been deployed in the vicinity since early Friday morning.
"When Auqaf staff opened the mosque gates in the morning, soldiers halted them and told them that prayer would not be permitted today," it said.
However, one member of the Aquaf, while wishing not to be identified, said, “Our own staff is more than 25, so how do the authorities believe that we can pray with just 25 worshippers in this grand mosque?”
He added that it was impossible for the prayers to take place in the present circumstances.
Jamia Masjid Srinagar had been closed citing COVID-19 pandemic
Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the valley, shrines and mosques including Jamia Masjid Srinagar and Dargah Hazratbal Shrine were previously closed.
However, after four months of being closed to prayers owing to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, congregational prayers were allowed at the Jamia Masjid.
Soon afterwards, the mosque was again closed by the authorities, citing the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the union territory.
Jamia Masjid’s frequent, purposeful closure extremely condemnable: Anjuman Auqaf
According to Anjuman Auqaf, the authorities' frequent and purposeful closure of the central Jama Masjid for Friday prayers is extremely condemnable.
The Muslims of the valley decry this injustice and interference with their religious commitments in the harshest words possible and express their outrage, according to the Anjuman.
People question administration’s ‘dual policy’
Meanwhile, residents have complained that the administration's 'dual policy' is perplexing because, on the one hand, it has closed worship places and hasn’t reopened educational institutions, while, on the other hand, tourist resorts are open and the administration and political parties are holding functions, sports tournaments, and other Melas (grand gatherings) in the valley.
“Irony is that, on the one hand, all concerns about Covid are ignored when it comes participation in official functions, while restrictions are imposed on Friday prayers where Covid SOPs are fully followed,” a devotee, Mohammad Ramzan, said.
“Devotees’ gathering viewed as a ‘threat’ to peace”
Ramzan, the 40-year-old resident of Srinagar, who lives in the grand mosque’s vicinity, claimed the authorities view the gathering of devotees as a "threat" to peace. “This is the fear, I feel, the authorities have and therefore, it won’t end soon,” he lamented.
“Every time, the only focus of security officials is the Jamia Masjid, which is the largest mosque in a Muslim-majority region. It has been put under curbs for months now," the devotee said.
Javed Ahmad, another devotee, said, “The constitution protects our right to practice our faith. However, it is repeatedly violated in Kashmir.”
As per him, previously the ‘excuse’ of a pandemic was used to discourage Muslims from praying at Jamia Masjid on Fridays. “Today, with the public places opening fully and the closure of Jamia continuing, the administration is entirely exposed,” he expressed.
Mirwaiz Umar also under detention for 28 consecutive months
It is pertinent to mention here that the authorities have not ended the detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, the head of Anjuman Auqaf and Chairman of All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).
Mirwaiz Umar has been under house arrest for the past 28 months (since the abrogation of J-K’s special status).
Apart from his other obligations, Mirwaiz Umar had a centuries-old duty as the Mirwaizeen-e-Kashmir of preaching Qaal Allah Wa Qaala Rasool (SAW), according to the Anjuman.
The Anjuman wishes that the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir would be able to perform his official obligations from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid and opening the grand mosque fully for the devotees.
https://www.digpu.com/india-news/devotees-outraged-over-continuous-closure-of-jamia-masjid-srinagar
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