No Eid prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid: Mosque body slams ‘unreasonable conditions’

As the Jammu and Kashmir administration did not allow the congregational Eid prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid for the fourth straight year since the abrogation of J&K’s special status, the management of the mosque has accused the administration of imposing “unreasonable conditions to thwart prayers”.

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid has expressed its resentment against the decision of the administration saying it has caused “great hurt and sorrow” to the Muslims of J&K. “The police and civil authorities informed us on Friday evening that Eid prayers would only be allowed at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, only before 7.30 am which was not possible for the Anjuman as it had already arranged the Eid prayers at 09:00 am as people from far-flung areas come to offer Eid prayer at the Jamia Masjid,” the Anjuman said in a statement.

Pointing out that prayers were allowed in other mosques in the valley after 10 am, Anjuman said it fails to understand why the prayers were not allowed at the grand mosque.

The Anjuman said the special night prayers and congregation on last Friday of Ramadan was allowed at the grand mosque and passed off peacefully.