Govt disallows Friday prayer at Srinagar’s Grand Mosque; parties condemn decision

In a statement, the separatist alliance said, “even in the holy month of Ramzan, despite appeals from all quarters for his release, barring him from his religious obligations as the Mirwaiz is greatly regrettable”. It said the repeated closure of the mosque was “condemnable” and a violation of people’s fundamental right to practice their religion.

The statement said “such measures” are a reminder that things on the ground in Kashmir are not what is being shown to the outside world by “strictly controlled narrative and a huge number of forces on the ground”.

“The repeated closure of the historic and central Jamia Masjid Srinagar by the authorities also belies the claims… that ‘all is well now’ in Naya Kashmir. Not allowing Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the Jamia Masjid, on an important religious day when lakhs of namazis from all over the valley traditionally pray at the Masjid for its great religious significance, is condemnable,” the APHC said.

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the management committee of the mosque, said the District Magistrate and police officials visited Jamia Masjid Friday morning and “asked the management to lock its gates as administration had decided that Jumat-ul-Vida prayers will not be allowed.”

Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter: “We are constantly treated to claims of normalcy in J&K and yet the administration betrays its own claims when it resorts to locking up one of our holiest mosques thus denying people the chance to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan.”

J&K Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari also expressed regret over the closure of the mosque and termed the act by the authorities as “deeply regrettable” and a “brazen violation” of religious freedom.

Srinaagr Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, condemned the closure of the mosque and said that law and order concerns and management “should not be allowed to evolve into vetoes and policy/administrative embargos curtailing fundamental religious rights.”