‘Oppressive, authoritarian’: Under ‘house arrest’, Kashmir’s chief priest slams authorities barring Eid prayers at Jama Masjid

Claiming that Eidgah and Jama Masjid have been closed down, he wrote: “I am deeply pained and strongly condemn the authorities decision to once again deny the Muslims of Kashmir the basic right to offer Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jama Masjid which have been closed down and I have been detained at home.”

The chief cleric said even at the peak of militancy during 1990s, Eid prayers were offered at the Eidgah which has been closed down now. The basic rights of Kashmiri Muslims have been taken away with use of strength and force, he said.

“So now when huge claims of “normalcy “ are made everyday by the authorities, why are Muslims being kept away from their religious places and practices? What is the agenda? Is the collective identify of Kashmiri Muslims a threat to the rulers?” he added.

Lats week, in his first Friday sermon after the Centre banned the Awami Action Committee (AAC) on March 11, Mirwaiz termed the action “harsh and uncalled for” and sought an immediate revocation of the order.

— With PTI inputs

From the homepage

In Bihar poll results tomorrow, 3 pillars of NDA’s hopes: Nitish, Mahila vote, social arithmetic edge

Mahagathbandhan’s calculation: Caste maths, with Tejashwi as a plus

How Japan shrugged off its Rare Earths dependency on China