No Friday prayers at historic Jamia in downtown Srinagar; Mirwaiz condemns government action

Authorities Friday locked the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, preventing devotees from offering  congregational prayers at the mosque on the first day of Ramadhan.

We received several calls from angry residents who alleged that the police and paramilitary forces didn’t allow them to head towards the mosque.

Curfew-like curbs were in place in several areas of the summer capital Srinagar, including Nowhatta where the mosque is located.

Restrictions were imposed to prevent a protest march called by separatists against killings of former militants in north Kashmir Sopore town.

Preventive restrictions under section 144 will remain in force till further orders in Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Parimpora and Maisuma areas of the city, a senior police officer said.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who addresses the devotees every Friday at the mosque, has condemned the government move.

“Preventing people from offering prayers in the mosque, especially on the first day of Ramadhan, otherwise a month of compassion, tantamount to interference in their religion,” Mirwaiz told over phone from his Nigeen residence.

Mirwaiz has been placed under house arrest to prevent him from leading a proposed protest rally in Sopore town today.

Rest of the pro-freedom leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam have been detained in various police stations.