Mufti slams administration for closing down Jama Masjid
Srinagar: A day after Jumat-ul-Vida prayers were disallowed in Srinagar’s Jama Masjid, the Authorities on Saturday closed the gates of the historic mosque ahead of the Shab-e-Qadr.
Police asked people to vacate mosque premises after the gates were closed.
“Authorities closed the gates of Jama Masjid while the police asked people to vacate the mosque premises. The Auqaf was informed that the observance of ‘Taraweeh’ or ‘Shab Khani’ on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr will not be permitted at the Jama Masjid,” Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar said in a statement.
The last Friday prayers of this Ramzan were not allowed to be held at the mosque by authorities and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of the mosque management body who was scheduled to give Friday sermon, was placed under house arrest.
“Anjuman Auqaf expresses profound disappointment at the decision of the authorities and strongly condemns this repressive measure,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday for shutting the gates of the Jama Masjid here on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr.
“How unfortunate that on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e Qadr Jama Masjid has been locked up to prevent people from offering prayers and Mirwaiz put under house arrest yet again. Land, resources, religion — what all will you deprive Kashmiris of?” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister asked in a post on X.
She was reacting to the Union Territory administration’s move to close the historic mosque around 5:30 pm on Saturday.
