Friday prayer not allowed for sixth straight week at historic Jamia Masjid

The state government did not allow mandatory Friday congregation prayers at historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar for sixth straight week on Friday. The government have also barred Kashmir head priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from leading Friday prayers from last six week.

Since early this morning the government has imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people in downtown area of Srinagar to prevent protests and rallies after congregational prayers.

Also, Imams and Molvis of various religious organisations and Masjids of Kashmir on Thursday had also discussed the continuous closure of Jamia Masjid and imposing strict curbs in downtown areas on every Friday to prevent people from reaching to the grand Masjid.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Anjuman-e-Ulame Ehnaf (JKAUE) also on Thursday condemned the continuous closure of historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta Srinagar.

Authorities yesterday had said that restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC will been imposed under the jurisdictions of Police Stations Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safakadal in Srinagar district as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident.

Joint Resistance Leadership had called for peaceful protest after weekly congregational prayers to protest the suspension of “life sentences of army soldiers involved” in Machhil fake encounter and “persecution of pro-freedom leadership”.