In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities once again disallowed senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, to offer the Juma prayers at historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been under continued house detention since 5th August 2019 when Narendra Modi-led fascist Indian government repealed the special status of IIOJK.
Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar in a statement said that for the past over three years, the mimbar-o-mihrab of the centuries-old grand mosque, which is a great religious and spiritual centre of the Muslims of Kashmir, continues to be silent due to the illegal and arbitrary house detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
It said that it was extremely unfortunate that the authorities had barred Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from performing Friday prayers and fulfilling his duties as the Mirwaiz of Kashmir for the last more than three years, which is deeply hurting the emotions and religious sentiments of lacs of Muslims and his followers.
The Anjuman Auqaf termed this behavior of the authorities as anti-Islamic and sheer interference in religious affairs as well as the violation of the freedom of expression, calling it extremely regrettable and condemnable.
It said the Mirwaiz is not only an important religious personality of IIOJK but also a beloved leader of the people who come to the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, in large numbers to listen to him on every Friday. It added that for the last over three years, the faithful, devotees and followers had to return disappointed from the Jamia Masjid in the absence of the Mirwaiz.
The Anjuman Auqaf maintained that the prolonged detention of the Mirwaiz has caused deep disappointment and anxiety among the people, and it is high time that this highhandedness of the authorities should end.
Meanwhile, the Anjuman expressed grief over the demise of the elderly aunt of its General Secretary Haji Muhammad Altaf Butt and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.—KMS
