Srinagar, The authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continued to disallow Juma prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar for the tenth consecutive week, intensifying restrictions on religious practices in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, stated that the authorities have not provided any reasons for these ongoing restrictions. The statement also highlighted that the Anjuman’s chief, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, remains under house arrest.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in the statement, expressed his condemnation of the repeated closure of the Jamia Masjid on Fridays and his continued detention. He criticized the Narendra Modi-led Indian government, stating that their claims of normalcy in the region are contradicted by such anti-people measures. Farooq questioned the specific targeting of the Jamia Masjid and urged the authorities to respect the religious sentiments of Muslims, allowing them to offer prayers in their mosques without hindrance.

Furthermore, the statement mentioned that the occupation authorities also prevented people from offering Juma prayers at the Imambargah in the Bemina area of Srinagar. In addition, noted religious scholar Agha Syed Mohammad Hadi Al-Moosvi was reportedly put under house detention.

This ongoing situation in IIOJK reflects a continued tension and suppression of religious freedoms, with significant implications for the Muslim community in the region. The repeated denial of Juma prayers at Jamia Masjid and other religious sites is seen as an infringement on fundamental religious rights, raising concerns among local and international observers.