SRINAGAR: In a fervent address to the congregation, Jamia Masjid’s head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday voiced his profound dismay over the authorities’ decision to prohibit observances of key religious events including Jumatul Vida, Shab-e-Qadr, and Eid prayers at the Jama mosque.
According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mirwaiz criticised the contradiction between the authorities’ optimistic public statements regarding the situation in Kashmir, and their actions that restricts religious freedom.
“Every time the mosque is locked down and I am detained at home, their claims get exposed,” he stated.
Despite these challenges, Mirwaiz reiterated that “our resilience and faith is unwavering. We are disappointed but not disheartened; we have full faith in Allah.”
He emphasized the historical and spiritual role of the Jama Masjid’s pulpit as the reflector of truth, vowing to shine light upon the state of affairs to the authorities, “whether they like it or not”.
Concluding he said that next Friday majlis Waz and Tableegh will commence at 12:35 PM and Friday prayers will be held at 1:40 PM.