So far Jamia Masjid remained closed for 14 Fridays this year, Mirwaiz Farooq misses sermon again: Anjuman

The management of Jamia Masjid Srinagar on Friday claimed the historic mosque was closed for prayers 14 Fridays this year. It said its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not allowed to leave his residence for delivering the sermon.

Although the Anjuman did not mention, it was apparently responding to a police statement that the central mosque of Kashmir was closed for prayers only three Fridays. The police had said so while responding to a tweet of Asaddudin Owaisi.

Mwanhile, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar criticised the government as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq missed Friday’s prayer and sermon at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar again.

Farooq’s status as a person under house arrest or free has become a bone of contention for all sides. While LG Manoj Sinha said Farooq was free and not detained, the Anjuman in a statement on Friday said that like the previous several Fridays, additional police and other paramilitary forces deployed outside the Nigeen residence of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq did not allow him to leave.

“Since August 5, 2019, Mirwaiz has not been allowed to deliver any Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid due to his continuous arbitrary and illegal detention; and a large number of Muslims from across the valley who come to the Jama Masjid Srinagar to offer Friday prayers and benefit from Mirwaiz’s sermons and guidance have been deprived of it due to his continued house arrest,” the statement said.