In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) has expressed concern over the repeated closure of all major places of worship including the Srinagar Jamia Masjid by the authorities in the name of so-called COVID-19 measures.
The MMU, an association of all ulema and lead-ing religious organisations headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a statement issued in Srinagar said that in spite of all coronavirus prevention protocols being in place and complete adherence to all Covid-related SOPs, the authorities are not allowing people to offer Friday prayers at key religious places.
It said that in view of the holy days of Muhar-ram and the significant decline in the Covid cases, one would normally expect that the authorities would facilitate arrangements for the ease of wor-shipers; but on the contrary restrictions are being imposed deliberately to prevent people from exer-cising their basic religious rights.
The MMU asked those in charge of decision-making to stop harassing people in this manner and allow them to pray in peace in their mosques, dar-gahs and khankahs.—KMS
