Authorities on Friday again disallowed the weekly congregational prayers at the grand mosque in downtown Srinagar, a spokesman of the Anjuman Auqaf said.
In a statement, the spokesman said that Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has strongly reacted to the imposition of restrictions on the largest place of worship and spiritual centre of Jammu Kashmir, Jamia Masjid Srinagar, thereby preventing the Muslims to perform important duties as Friday prayers, terming the move by authorities as deplorable and reprehensible.
The Anjuman in a statement said: “Today, once again in the morning, the authorities and the police locked the main gate of the Central Jamia Masjid and prevented the locals and the people having come from various parts of the Valley to perform their Friday prayers at their beloved mosque.”
Expressing concern over the policies pursued by the authorities towards the Central Jamia Masjid, the Anjuman said that all records of forcible closure of the grand mosque have been broken.
“It said the people are being deprived of all the rights including religious rights by force which is a cause of great uneasiness and anxiety for the Muslims of Kashmir,” said Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
The Anjuman demanded immediate reopening of Jamia Masjid Srinagar for Friday prayers and an end to the detention of the Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir without any further delay.