Jumat-ul-Vida not allowed in J&K Jama Masjid; Mirwaiz put under house arrest

The Jammu and Kashmir authorities disallowed prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar for the fifth consecutive year and put Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who addresses the congregation, under house arrest.

Mirwaiz slammed the administration's move as "authoritarianism" and "direct violation of religious rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir".

Thousands of people traditionally attend the Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the Jama Masjid on the last Friday of Ramzan. However, since 2019, when Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated, the authorities have not allowed the Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the Jama Masjid. Mirwaiz was not allowed to address a press conference at his home as well and later he issued a video message.


"For the fifth consecutive year the state authorities have once again locked the gates of historic and central Jama masjid Srinagar and put me under house arrest... It is extremely sad and unfortunate that the authorities snatched this opportunity from us and forcibly locked the gates of Jama Masjid," said Mirwaiz. "People of J&K protest this authoritarianism and direct violation of our religious rights."

Mirwaiz said the Jama Masjid is the "centre of Islam in Kashmir" and subjecting it to enforced lockdowns by the authorities in the most arbitrary and authoritarian way is highly regrettable. He remembered thousands of youths and political prisoners as well as leaders languishing in jails for years and urged people to pray for their health and early release. He also prayed for Palestine and sought immediate justice for its people.