Anjuman Auqaf slams continued restrictions on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Srinagar: The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, which manages the historic mosque in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, has slammed the authorities for continued restrictions imposed on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

The Auqaf alleged that the administration has barred the chief cleric from leading prayers at the central mosque for consecutive 13 weeks without any reason.

In a statement, the Auqaf termed the restrictions on Mirwaiz “unjustified” stating he is not allowed to offer and lead important religious duties during the congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.

“The administration is also not providing any genuine reason for such restrictions on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, due to which the Minbar-o-Mihraab (pulpit) of the historic grand mosque remains silent.

The body added that such “undue curbs” on the movement and activities of Mirwaiz are tantamount to interference in religious affairs and hurt the emotions and sentiments of the people of the valley, especially the devotees who throng the mosque on Fridays to listen to the sermon of the leader.

“Such behaviour of the government is not only sad in every sense but also smacks of its vindictive policy,” the statement said.

The region’s top cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was earlier released from detention in September last year following which he delivered his sermon for the first time after four years of house arrest. He was amongst the dozens of top leaders in Kashmir jailed ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

Mirwaiz is also the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was welcomed by thousands of passionate Muslim worshippers amidst a shower of rose petals and candies. He was again barred from preaching at the mosque in the aftermath of outbreak of Israel’s war against the Palestinians in Gaza.

The Hurriyat leader, who has been named one of the World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims more than once, expressed his support to the Palestinians he claimed were living in the world’s “largest open-air prison” while he accused the Israeli state of gross human rights violation.

Meanwhile, the Auqaf has also termed the drought-like situation in the Valley as extremely alarming, saying the lack of rain and snow in this season is a matter of concern not only for those associated with the agriculture sector but also for the common man.

The body has appealed to all imams of masjids, scholars, heads of religious institutions and the general public across Kashmir to organise ‘Namaz-e-Istisqa’, a special prayer performed by Muslims in supplication for rain and respite from the harsh weather.