Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti, the President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized the decision to close Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid during Shab-e Qadr, expressing concern over the restrictions placed on religious observance and the continued house arrest of Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Mufti’s statements came in the wake of authorities shutting down the historic mosque on one of the most revered nights in the Islamic calendar, following the barring of Jumat-ul-Wida prayers there. Her comments highlighted the broader issues of limitations on religious freedoms and civil liberties in the region, including the confinement of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also in charge of the mosque’s management.

The closure of the Jamia Masjid on significant religious occasions has sparked considerable backlash, underscoring tensions in the area. Mufti’s denouncement on social media, accompanied by visual evidence of the closed mosque, emphasizes the growing concerns over the treatment of religious sites and leaders in Kashmir.