SRINAGAR, The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar has voiced its concern over the limitations placed by the Jammu and Kashmir authorities on the religious duties of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

According to a news release by Kashmir Media Service, the Anjuman conveyed in a statement that the authorities have not only barred the Mirwaiz from giving the customary Juma sermon at Jamia Masjid Srinagar but have also obstructed him from performing his religious obligations, a move they deemed regrettable.

The Mirwaiz had been slated to speak to a congregation at the shrine of Peer Dastgir Sahib in the Khanyar region of Srinagar today, marking the Urs of Hazrat Peeran-e-Peer Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA). However, he was prohibited from attending. In a past instance, he was also denied permission to be present at a Seerat conference at the Peer Dastgir Sahib shrine in Sarai Bala, Srinagar.

The Anjuman highlighted that this year marks the fifth consecutive year the Mirwaiz has experienced detention in his own home, preventing him from fulfilling his religious duties. Furthermore, the organization emphasized that the authorities have yet to provide a tangible explanation for such decisions.

Despite these restrictions, numerous individuals had congregated at the Peer Dastgir Sahib shrine in Khanyar with the intention of hearing the Mirwaiz’s sermon. Owing to his house detention, many left the location profoundly disheartened.

The Anjuman concluded by stating that such actions taken by the authorities contradict their claims of establishing normalcy in the region.