The Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, claimed on Friday that he was being placed under house arrest and barred from offering congregational prayers at the Jama Masjid for the third consecutive week.
Mirwaiz, the Chief Cleric of Kashmir, also alleged that he was denied permission to lead the offering prayers at the historically and politically important Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
Meanwhile, there was no word from the police on the claims made by the Hurriyat chief.
Mirwaiz wrote on X, “Again prevented from going to #JamaMasjid for third consecutive Friday. Despite the bone-chilling cold, thousands of the elderly, women, physically challenged children, and people from all over the valley gather, waiting expectantly with a lot of affection and devotion to listen to the word of God at the Grand Mosque.”
He added that these actions only bring “disappointment” for the affectionate people seeking to offer their prayers peacefully.
“What hurt and disappointment it brings to them all when those in power assert brute force and detain me, totally impervious and heartless to the grief they cause to them, to me and the Muslims of the valley,” Mirwaiz said.
The authorities have continuously denied permission to the chief cleric, likely on the grounds of ongoing security issues.
People from all over the valley visit Jamia Masjid Srinagar to offer all important Friday prayers every week.
In 2008, 2010, and 2016 uprisings, this place became a centre of focus, especially for the security agencies due to its political importance in the context of Kashmir.
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