Jammu & Kashmir erupts in protest against US decision on Jerusalem

Massive protest rallies were held across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday against the controversial US decision declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, even as congregational prayers were disallowed by the government at historic Jamia Masjid in Downtown Srinagar. Thousands of protesters and numerous religious scholars said that the United Nations must urge the United States to roll back the outrageous move that has hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the globe.

Massive protests across Kashmir
Almost all shrines, masjids and imam baras in Kashmir reverberated with anti-US, pro-Palestine and pro-Islam slogans while massive protest rallies were taken out after congregational prayers. The call for protests was given by the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
During Friday sermons, hundreds of religious clerics denounced the US move and said that Muslims across the world will never accept it.

‘Declaration of war against muslims’
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leaders and activists assembled at Maisuma Srinagar after congregational Friday prayers and took out a massive protest rally. According to a JKLF spokesman, the protesting Front leaders and activists, among others, included Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Muhammad Yasin Butt, Zahoor Ahmad Butt, Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and Ashraf-bin-Salam. The protesters, who held placards displaying pro-Palestine slogans, also raised slogans against the US.
The protestors marched towards Budshah Chowk where they held a peaceful sit-in, the spokesman said.
Calling the US move as “declaration of war against the entire Muslim ummah”, the JKLF zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal said that this outrageous decision has “actually risked the prospect of peace and prosperity across the world.”
Kalwal said that Bait-ul-Maqdas in Jerusalem is the third holiest place of Islam and therefore no Muslim can accept the US decision silently.
“This decision shows the bias of the Trump administration towards the Muslims and is bound to infuse more tension and hatred in the world,” he said.
The Front spokesman said that JKLF leaders addressed people at Jamia Masjid Pulwama, Jamia Masjid Trichal, Jamia Masjid Dangerpora, Jamia Masjid Nohaar, Jamia Masjid Wahipora, Jamia Masjid Aarihal, Jamia Masjid Drangbal Pampore, Jamia Masjid Kiegam Shopian, Jamia Masjid Gudar Kulgam, Jamia Masjid Layino Kulgam, Jamia Masjid Sheikh-ul-Aalam Islamabad, Jamia Masjid Sideeqi Dangerpora, Jamia Hanfia Nai Basti Islamabad, Jamia Masjid Chanser Kulgam and Jamia Masjid Wouqi Kulgam.

US move unacceptable, Prejudiced: Hurriyat (G)
Leaders and activists of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani also staged a protest against US move declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, at Hyderpora here, after Friday prayers.
“The decision is unacceptable and prejudiced. It has stabbed the hearts of Muslims across the world,” the protesters said.
Those who participated in protest demonstrations included Haji Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Hakeem Abdur Rashid, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, Muhammad Rafiq Owasi, Davinder Singh Behal, Muhammad Yusuf Makroo, Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, Meraj-u-Din Rabbani, Mudasir Nadvi and others, a Hurriyat (G) spokesman said.
He said that other leaders and activists of the Hurriyat also led protest rallies in various district headquarters in Kashmir.

‘Down with ISRAEL, Down with US’
Leaders and activists of Hurriyat (M) took out a massive protest rally at Soura Srinagar after Friday prayers.
According to a Hurriyat (M) spokesman, those who participated in the rally included Mushtaq Ahmed Sofi, advocate Yasir Dalal, Farooq Ahmed, Sahil Ahmed, Hayat and Muhammad Yosuf. The protestors raised pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans. Many locals also joined the rally and raised slogans “Down with Israel, Down with US.”

MMU passes resolution
On the appeal of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, an amalgam of various religious organisations headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, massive protest rallies were held across Kashmir against US’ decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In almost all major masjids, shrines and imam baras of Jammu and Kashmir, a resolution framed by the MMU was read and passed unanimously by the people, a statement issued by the MMU said.
The resolution condemned US’ unilateral decision. It was read out in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam, Sopore, Qazigund, Anantnag, Banihal, Kargil, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch.
The MMU spokesman said that imams of all masjids and shrines expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine in this “hour of grave injustice” and extended full support to them. They said that the entire Muslim world feels hurt by the “dictatorial” decision of the US president.
The MMU also termed the government’s decision of placing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house detention as a “repressive measure” and stated that “converting entire Downtown Srinagar into a garrison reflects the autocratic mindset of the present regime in Kashmir.”
“We strongly condemn the government’s decision of foiling the Rehmatal-lil-Alameen (SAW) conference that was supposed to take place at historic Jamia Masjid. It amounts to a direct religious interference. It is the biggest shame for the government that people of Kashmir were barred from paying tributes to revered Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” the spokesman said.

What the MMU resolution read
“This gathering expresses deep anger and anguish against the US President Donald Trump’s decision of giving occupied Jerusalem recognition of Israel’s capital and terms it as totally unacceptable. This gathering lays stress on the OIC and the UN to take strong note of Trump’s unilateral decision so that the anger and anguish found in the hearts of Muslims across the globe is addressed,” the resolution read, adding: “By declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir feels deeply hurt and is of the belief that the decision is totally unacceptable and should be rolled back forthwith.”
This gathering expresses solidarity with thousands of Palestinians who are feeling distressed as this juncture and the people of Jammu and Kashmir vow to protect the sanctity of Baitul-Muqadas (Masjid Al-Aqsa) as we believe it is obligatory for every Muslim as far as our faith is concerned, the MMU resolution further read. “The unilateral decision of declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is the outcome of the bonhomie between Israel and US and direct violation of the UN charter on which Muslims across the world can’t remain silent and will resist the move tooth and nail.”

Curbs in Downtown (Srinagar)
The government Friday imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and arrested dozens of pro-freedom activists and placed some leaders under house arrest ahead of planned protests against the US move declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Fearing trouble, the police imposed restrictions in areas falling under police stations Nowhatta, Safakadal and M R Gunj.
Meanwhile, chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq lambasted the government for debarring Muslims by force from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.
“Once again the authoritarian regime has resorted to its SOP (shameful operating procedure) of imposing restrictions and disallowing Muslims to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and peacefully expressing their resentment against the US decision on Jerusalem,” Mirwaiz wrote on his twitter handle.
Meanwhile, a Hurriyat (M) spokesman strongly condemned the government for placing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest once again and turning majority of Downtown areas into a military fortress and sealing the historic Jamia Masjid yet again for 15th time this year.
The spokesman said that it has become a regular feature of the ruling dispensation in Kashmir to repeatedly bar Friday prayers at the central mosque and cage Mirwaiz.
“This deplorable measure is being carried out even during the sacred month of Rabi-ul-Awal, and people are prevented from offering Friday congregational prayers and subsequent Majlis-e-Milad commemorating the occasion of Friday-following Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (SAW) which has deeply hurt their religious sentiments,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman also condemned the continuous house detention of veteran resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani. He also slammed the government for detaining senior Hurriyat leader Mukhtar Ahmed Waza and lodging him in police station Sherbagh in Islamabad (Anantnag).
The spokesman said that while continuing with its “repressive” policies in Kashmir, New Delhi and their “local quislings” are “running the state through force and military might, having let loose terror upon the people of Kashmir, brazenly trampling all their rights and liberties including right to religious practices.”

Rallies in Bhaderwah
Anti-US protest rallies were also held in areas of Bhaderwah in Jammu province.
“Like Muslims all over the world, we are also deeply pained by the actions of Donald Trump who recently visited Israel and accepted Jerusalem as its capital. We strongly resent this move which clearly shows the anti-Muslim policies of the US,” said Pervaiz Ahmad, president, Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah.

Protest rally in Gurez
A protest rally was held in Gurez area of Bandipora district against the US decision declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a witness said.
Scores of people held a protest demonstration in Dawar area of Gurez after Friday prayers, denouncing the US decision. The protesters, amid slogans against the Trump administration, marched from Jamia Masjid to Tehsil office Gurez.

Massive rally in Kargil
The entire Muslim community in Kargil on Friday expressed its resentment and rage against the US decision on Jerusalem.
Thousands of people hit the streets in Kargil and shouted slogans against the US. Soon after Friday prayers, protest rallies were taken out from Jamia Masjid Hanfiya, Islamia School Kargil and New Bus Stand during which the protesters chanted slogans against America, Donald Trump and Israel and urged upon the government of India to protest against the US move and raise the issue at international levels.
Several people spoke on the occasion and unanimously denounced declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Protest rallies were taken out under banners of Anjuman Jamiyat Ulma Asna Ashriya Kargil (Islamia School Kargil), Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust and Ahle Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat, at Kargil town.