Hurriyat (M) expressed strong resentment and disgust over the government’s decision to once again impose severe curfew, restrictions and curbs to stop people from offering Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and other major Masjids, Khanqahs, shrines and Imam Barahs for the 14th consecutive week.
In a statement issued to KNS, Hurriyat (M) said that Jamia Masjid Srinagar is the central symbol of the indigenous Muslim identity of the people of Kashmir who hold it in great reverence and relevance and barring people from praying there is the worst possible assault on the religious sentiments of the people attached with it.
Wherever possible people strongly protested this anti Muslim stand by the state, of disallowing a vast majority of people the basic religious right of offering Friday prayers.
Addressing a Friday gathering at Shanglipora, Palpora Jamia Masjid, APHC member and Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC) leader, Moulvi Muhammad Yaqoob expressed strong resentment against the government for disallowing congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar for the past three-and-a-half months and illegal detention of the Mirwaiz of the state and Hurriyat (M) Chairman Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, who as a consequence has not been able to deliver the Friday sermon from the pulpit of Jamia masjid, which is a centuries old tradition of the Mirwaizeen, thus violating his right to propagate religion and discharge his duties.
He said that the right to practice religion by Muslims, who are the majority community in JK, is being completely and systematically violated and trampled upon by the GOI and their local collaborators , as part of a state policy of repression and revenge against the people.
Later, a massive protest march was held at Palpora in which people in general and youth in particular carrying placards and photographs of the Mirwaiz demanded his immediate release and the release of other resistance leaders while raising pro-freedom slogans.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) expressed concern and condemnation over the killing of a political activist Ghulam Nabi Khawaja at the hands of unidentified gunmen saying Islam condemns the murder of any innocent person.
Commenting on the proposed settlement of West Pakistan refugees in J&K by the RSS, Hurriyat (M) said this was part of the long time and nefarious design of the right wing group to change the demography of the Muslim-majority state for its eventual integration into India. The fact of the matter is that non-state subjects can never become citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. Such statements are aimed at gaining political mileage by playing with the sentiments of these refugees and arousing communal passions. If GoI is rally concerned about their rehabilitation it can settle them anywhere in their vast country.