Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 15: Emotional scenes witnessed today at Jamia Masjid Srinagar when some Burka clad women found the grand mosque locked as these women had come from far off places to attend Friday prayers on the eve of birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).
“I came here all the way from Budgam to offer prayers. My father used to offer prayers here during the auspicious month and he advised us to continue the tradition, but it was painful to see the Jamia Masjid locked here,” said an elderly lady Shakeela.
Another woman who lives nearby asked that if the parks and gardens are open and life is normal, why is Jamia Masjid closed. “This is just an attack on our faith”, she said.
The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid has said that the authorities did not allow Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar.
“Heavy deployment of forces was carried out since early morning in the entire area. When the Auqaf employees opened up the gates of the mosque police personnel forced them to close all the gates and no namazis were allowed inside the mosque for offering the obligatory Friday prayers,” the statement reads.
They said that the earlier pretext of COVID pandemic by the authorities to prevent Muslims from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid stands completely exposed today.
“It is extremely unfortunate and disdainful of the authorities to disallow Muslims of the valley from praying at the Central mosque by use of brute force and cause them hurt and grief. Muslims of the valley denounce this injustice and interference in religious freedom in the strongest terms,” it reads.
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