Last week, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs banned the political outfit that the Mirwaiz leads, the Awami Action Committee, as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Mohammad Abbas Ansari.
SRINAGAR — Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was yet again restricted to his residence by the authorities and was prevented from leading congregational Friday prayers Historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the governing body that runs Srinagar’s grand mosque, expressed “deep disappointment and regret”, saying that its president was again placed under house detention, preventing him from delivering the Friday sermon at the mosque in Nowhatta, The Indian Express reported.
Last week, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs banned the political outfit that the Mirwaiz leads, the Awami Action Committee, as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Mohammad Abbas Ansari. Both were constituents of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, chaired by the Mirwaiz.
“This arbitrary and unjustified move by the authorities comes at a time when the holy month of Ramzan is going on. Jamia Masjid is the central place of worship where thousands gather for Friday prayers, seeking guidance, blessings, and connection with the Almighty,” the Aqua said in a statement.
They added that barring the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir from fulfilling his religious duties and preventing the faithful from benefiting from his sermons is deeply hurtful to the religious sentiments of the people.
The Anjuman emphasised that it is “distressing and disappointing” for the people who travel far and wide to listen to his sermons. “Such restrictions, especially during the sacred month of Ramzan, are completely uncalled for and go against the principles of religious freedom,” the Aqua stated.
Demanding that the Mirwaiz be “immediately released” from house detention so that he can carry on with his religious obligations, the body urged people to continue their prayers amidst such “unjustified curbs.”
