No prayers were allowed at the masjid for the 13th consecutive Friday nor was the call for prayers permitted much to the disappointment of thousands of residents in the surrounding areas.
The last Friday prayers were offered at the grand masjid on July 8, on the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
People in Srinagar mostly prefer to offer Friday prayers at the masjid located in the heart of downtown city.
"Authorities have imposed curfew also on our religious activities,” said the local people adding “the repeated move has hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims in Kashmir.”
The residents complained that apart from political activities, the religious rights of Muslims have also been suspended.
“There was agitation in Jammu in 2008. There was no use of pellets and bullets against protestors who blocked the Srinagar-Jammu highway. No temple was locked. It is shame that PDP government has broken the records of Omar Abdullah-led government now,” said Abdul Aziz of Khanyar.
“I have been offering Friday prayers in this Jamia Masjid since my childhood. I have never seen the masjid being locked for such a long period,” said Ali Muhammad, 65, of Gojwari.
“In a Muslim majority state, state government locks its grand masjid on the excuse that it would help in restoration of peace. It is shameful,” he added.
“The practice to disallow prayers in Jamia Masjid began in 1819. It happened during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh when the then Governor Moti Ram curbed prayers at the masjid” said Shahid-ul-Islam, media advisor of Hurriyat (M).
“That time, no prayers were offered and no call for prayers was given from the Masjid. The curbs remained in force for over two decades,” he said adding “Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is not only a political activist but also a head preacher.”
“This is the darkest era we are going through. We have never seen such a longest period when Jamia Masjid was locked down. It is direct interference into the religious affairs,” Shahid-ul-Islam added.
Jamia Masjid was constructed by Sultan Sikandar, father of Zainul Aabideen popularly known as Budshah between 1389-1420.
Meanwhile, authorities on Friday locked the gates of a revered shrine of Sheikh Yaqoob Sarfi (RA) located near the UN office, to halt a march called by resistance leaders.
All roads leading to Sonwar were sealed with police and paramilitary forces deployed behind barricades erected at all the entry and exit points.
Pertinently, Eid-ul-Adha prayers were not offered at this revered shrine due to the curfew imposed by the authorities, on September 13. The resistance leadership had asked people to march towards the UN office on that day.