Srinagar: Authorities on Friday did not allow the mandatory weekly congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
Kashmir’s head priest and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed locking down of the Jamia Masjid as ‘hurting the sentiments of the people’.
“In the holy month of Ramadan also, the biggest mosque of valley is locked down and put under seige. Thousands of Muslims are denied the right to pray there. Such measures reflect the rulers utter disdain for people’s religious rights or hurting their sentiments which is very sad. (sic),” Mirwaiz said in a tweet.
The authorities had locked down the Jamia Masjid and also imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city in view of shutdown called by the separatist leadership against the recent killings.
The JRL had asked people to observe shutdown to protest the unfortunate killings. JRL also asked the Imams and to raise their voice against the bloodshed in their Friday sermons.