Islamabad, As World Religion Day is commemorated internationally, reports from Jammu and Kashmir indicate continued suppression of religious freedom by Indian authorities in the region. The day, meant to promote interfaith harmony, contrasts sharply with the situation in the occupied territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a report compiled in connection with World Religion Day highlights several incidents underscoring the suppression of religious practices in Jammu and Kashmir. Notable examples include the violation of the Jamia Masjid Srinagar’s sanctity during a military operation in August 1989, the desecration of Dargah Hazratbal in November 1993, and the burning of Charar-e-Sharif shrine in May 1995.
The report further mentions that the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar was closed for Friday prayers for three years following the August 5, 2019, administrative changes in the region. Additionally, Eid and Shab-e-Qadr prayers were banned in the mosque, with authorities citing law and order issues. This prohibition of communal prayers, particularly in the open as is traditional for Eid, is seen as a violation of religious freedom and a psychological tactic against Kashmiri Muslims.
In a recent incident on the night of June 23-24, 2023, Indian soldiers allegedly forced worshippers in Zadoora Jamia Masjid, Pulwama district, to chant Hindu slogans over the mosque’s loudspeakers. This act of desecration echoes a 2013 incident where the desecration of a mosque and Quran by troops led to protests and the deaths of four demonstrators.
The suppression extends to Muslim clerics as well, with several prominent religious leaders detained without charges. In 2022, seven religious leaders were arrested and jailed, and Maulana Sarjan Barkati has been in jail since September 16, 2023. Following the August 5, 2019, changes, the Indian government banned Jamaat-e-Islami and detained about 300 of its members, including its leader, Dr. Abdul Hameed Fayaz.
The report concludes that the Indian government’s actions against Islam and Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir are both overt and covert. Restrictions on religious leaders, including house arrests and detentions, have led to a push for an “Indianized” version of religious practices, particularly in Friday sermons.