Allow Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid, says religious body

Srinagar, December 3

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the body that looks after the historic Srinagar mosque, on Friday protested against the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to disallow the weekly congregational prayers there.

The Anjuman said the authorities were stopping Muslims from performing important religious duty of offering Friday prayers at the largest place of worship in Jammu and Kashmir. “Once again men, women, and elderly people who came from various parts of the Valley were deprived from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar,” the Anjuman said.

It claimed that the mosque was shutdown for the weekly Friday prayers for the 43rd time this year. “It is the 17th consecutive Friday since Juma prayers have not been allowed in Jamia Masjid Srinagar while Muslims have not been allowed to offer congregational Friday prayers. The pulpit and mihraab of the grand mosque are silent,” the Anjuman added.

The religious body said it was outraged by the ‘dictatorial behaviour’ of the authorities.

“Jamia Masjid Srinagar is being kept closed for worship under a nefarious plan which is extremely painful for Kashmiri people and also a sheer interference with religion. Such measures expose the hollow claims of the proponents of the so-called democracy,” it said.

“On the one hand, all places of worship of different religions have been opened, while on other, Jamia Masjid Srinagar is being subjected to vengeance,” the Anjuman said . — PTI