In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum has demanded the opening of Srinagar Jamia Masjid and release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from his illegal house detention.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Civil Society Forum Chairman, Abdul Qayoom Wani, in a statement issued in Srinagar said It has been now the practice of three years of its closure after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A on August 05, 2019.
He expressed concern over the attitude of stakeholders who allow only partial opening of this grand centre of worship for Muslims and its closure at important occasions like festivals etc.
Recalling the glorious past, he said that people from nook and corner of Kashmir happened to plan before days to travel to Srinagar as a religious belief to pray Friday prayers at this grand mosque to attain mental peace and thus have been waiting for its permanent opening but three years on now the grand mosque awaits a permanent opening for prayers.
In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian authorities have intensified curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar city and suspended internet services to foil the Muharram processions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Ram Munshi Bagh, Kothibagh, Maisuma, Kral Khud, Shaheedgunj, Shergari, Batamaloo, Khanyar and Karan Nagar areas of the city.
The authorities also suspended mobile internet services in Srinagar and several areas of Kashmir valley. In a handout to the media, the police said that the Muharram procession from Guru Bazaar to Dal Gate in Srinagar has not been allowed by the authorities.
In an order, the District Magistrate of Srinagar said that the decision not to allow the Muharram procession has been taken in Srinagar.
Notably, two major processions of 8th and 10th Muharram were banned in 1989 by the then administration and since then no processions have been allowed till now.—INP
