Srinagar, November 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Anjuman Auqaf of Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, has condemned the authorities for once again preventing the people from offering Friday prayers at the historic mosque.

The Anjuman in a statement in Srinagar said it is regrettable and reprehensible in all respects to impose restrictions only on the Jamia Masjid under the guise of COVID-19 pandemic while all other places of worship in IIOJK are open.

“We have repeatedly said that forcibly preventing Muslims in Kashmir from performing their religious rites, especially Friday prayers, is not only tantamount to interference in religion but also deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of the people,” it added.

The Anjuman said that apart from the people, the associations, institutions and personalities from all schools of thought had unanimously demanded opening of the Srinagar Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers and ending the illegal and arbitrary detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who continues to be under house arrest since 05 August 2019.

Meanwhile, the imams and khateebs in most of the mosques, khanqas, shrines and imambargahs of IIOJK on the occasion of Friday prayers expressed displeasure over the closure of the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar for Friday prayers and the continued detention of the Mirwaiz. They demanded opening of the central grand mosque and release of the Mirwaiz.

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