Srinagar : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has strongly criticized the disallowing of Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
In a statement, he called out the administration’s high-handedness and condemned the measure as a clear violation and interference with the religious rights of the people.
“Such unwarranted curbs hurt the religious sentiments of millions and are unsuited to the country’s democratic, secular moorings besides debunking the claims of the government on changed ground situation across Kashmir,” Dr Abdullah said.
The former chief minister also expressed his concern about the continuous detention of Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, which he deemed a violation of basic human rights.
Mirwaiz who would lead the congregational prayers at the Masjid, has been under detention since August 5, 2019, when the Indian government abrogated the special status of the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two federally administered union territories.
The administration has disallowed congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, which is the central mosque and an epicenter of faith for millions of Muslims across the region.
