Srinagar, Dec 1 (UNI) The managing body of the historic Jamia mosque on Friday urged the administration to remove “undue restrictions” and allow the Friday prayers here and remove restrictions on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said today congregational prayers were disallowed for eight consecutive weeks at the mosque and the restrictions were imposed on chief cleric Umar Farooq.
Since October 13, the Friday prayers have not been allowed at Jamia mosque as authorities apprehend that there could be protests in support of Palestine.

Anjuman reiterated its concern and resentment against the disallowing of Friday prayers for the eighth consecutive Friday, and also against the house detention of Mirwaiz.

“The centuries-old pulpit and mihrab of the grand mosque have been silent for the eighth consecutive Friday,” the Auqaf said in a statement.

“Such hostile acts by the administration are not only tantamount to interference in religious affairs but also seriously hurt the feelings and sentiments of the people,” it added.

People have a deep religious and emotional attachment to the Jama Masjid Srinagar and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, and disallowing prayers here severely hurts their sentiments. Placing restrictions on Mirwaiz Sahib amounts to denying him religious freedom. As the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, he has a lot of responsibilities towards people and society but the administration is not allowing him to carry out his duties, the Auqaf said.
“Frequent undue restrictions on Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir are a matter of serious concern for both Anjuman as well as people, especially the thousands of devotees from various parts of the valley who throng the Jama Masjid Srinagar every Friday but have to return deeply disappointed and with heavy hearts,” it said.

In view of these facts, the administration must remove undue restrictions on the Jama Masjid Srinagar and Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the Auqaf said.

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