Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid after 19 weeks
SRINAGAR: After 19 weeks, Friday prayers were held at the historic Jamia Masjid located in the downtown area of Srinagar, with hundreds of people coming from different parts of the city to offer prayers at the mosque.
Jamia Masjid is one of the biggest mosques in the Valley and sermons delivered by the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir holds major significance in Kashmir politics. However, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is under house arrest since August 5, was not allowed to observe prayers at the mosque on Friday. Before restrictions were placed ahead of the abrogation of Article 370, the separatist leader used to deliver the weekly sermon from pulpit of the mosque.
On Friday, police and CRPF personnel were deployed at sensitive spots leading towards the mosque. However, security personnel were not present in the mosque courtyard. Outside the mosque at the main square, senior police officials in three bullet proof vehicles were keeping close watch on people entering the mosque, especially on the alleys leading towards the entrance.
“It is after 19 Friday’s that we are offering prayers in the historic mosque,’’ said Abdul Majid, a shopkeeper in the courtyard of the mosque. “It is unfortunate that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not released for the prayers. How long will the government suppress our leadership and people,” he added.
Jan Mohammad, who had come to offer prayers from Nowhatta, said whenever something happens in Kashmir, Jamia Masjid is closed for the prayers. “This hurts our religious sentiments. I am happy that we are able to hear call for the prayers now. The government should not close our mosques, especially the Jamia Masjid,” he said.
At the entrance of the mosque, four local volunteers wearing pheran (long Kashmiri gown) were allowing people inside only after proper frisking. “Instead of the Mirwaiz, head priest will be delivering the Friday sermon,” a volunteer said.
In his Friday sermon, chief cleric Ahmad Sayeed Naqashbandi condemned the government for not allowing prayers in the mosque since August 5 and sought release of prisoners.
“This (closure of mosque) has not happened for the first time. Earlier too, when Mehbooba Mufti was ruling J&K, prayers were not allowed here. People were also not allowed to offer Eid prayers here. This is an attack on our religious rights,” said the chief cleric amid pro freedom slogans. “We urge the government to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other people detained in Kashmir from past many months,” he added.
After the prayers, a peaceful protest was taken out against the closure of the mosque for 19 weeks, officials said. A few people assembled outside the main building of the mosque and took out the protest march shouting slogans against the government. The protestors later dispersed peacefully, they said.
On Wednesday, people offered afternoon prayers in the mosque for the first time after it was sealed on August 5.
On Tuesday, Anjuman-e-Auqaf, the body managing Jamia Masjid had held a meeting after security forces were removed from the gates. The Anjuman-eAuqaf had decided to hold the prayers for which more than 100 people had gathered.
The management said the prayers will be offered regularly now onwards, especially the Friday prayers.
Police had said they removed restrictions around the Jamia Masjid from November 22 but people had refused to offer prayers demanding that the security forces deployed around the mosque be removed.