Srinagar, Apr 05 (KNO): Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was put under house arrest, while Jama Masjid was also locked for prayers on the last Friday of Ramadan, according to a statement issued here.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mirwaiz said that for the 5th Consecutive year the authorities once again locked the gates of historic and central Jama masjid Srinagar and put him under house arrest.
"Juma-tul-vida has a great significance for Muslims as it is a day of special prayers and supplications. So Lakhs of people including men women and children from all districts of the valley come to Jama Masjid to participate in this specially blessed and rewarding Friday, which comes once in a year. It is extremely sad and unfortunate that the authorities snatched this opportunity from us and forcibly locked the gates of Jama Masjid," reads the statement.
It added that the action has caused great distress, anguish and pain among the people of Jammu Kashmir. "Repeatedly, Jama Masjid is subject to enforced lockdowns by the authorities. And I am also put under house arrest on Fridays to prevent me from going to Jama Masjid. Each Friday is a day of uncertainty and anxiety for me as I do not know if I will be allowed to go to Jama Masjid or not depending on the will of the authorities."
He said that this is the most arbitrary and authoritarian way to function and is highly regrettable. "But as the Quran preaches us patience and undoubtedly Allah is with the patient so we have to follow this path of being patient."
Mirwaiz also asked the people to remember the people of Palestine and pray to Allah to ease their suffering, pain and deliver them justice.
"Let us also remember thousands of our youth and political prisoners, leaders languishing in jail for years and pray for their health and early release," the statement added—(KNO)