SRINAGAR: Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid was locked and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq placed under house arrest Saturday on Eid-ul-Adha, denying devotees the opportunity to offer prayers and provoking a backlash from many, including CM Omar Abdullah.Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, which looks after the mosque management, said the gates were closed early Saturday morning and police deployed outside. Mirwaiz and Hurriyat Conference chairman Umar Farooq’s family has traditionally led prayers at the mosque for generations.“It is deeply regrettable that once again, people were not allowed to offer Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid,” Omar said. He expressed helplessness, saying law and order in J&K Union territory fell under the purview of lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha’s administration. “I have no idea on what grounds such decisions are made,” the CM said.Omar urged the authorities to trust J&K’s residents, saying “these are the same people who, after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, came forward and unequivocally condemned it”. The CM called on “the govt” to reconsider such actions in the future, alluding probably to the administration of the Centre-appointed LG.Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decried the mosque closure. “Yet again, Kashmir wakes up to the sad reality: no Eid prayers at Eidgah, and Jama Masjid locked down for 7th straight year. I, too, have been detained at my home. In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again,” the Mirwaiz posted on X.J&K police and home department had not issued any statement on locking of the mosque and Mirwaiz’s detention.PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti joined the condemnation, accusing the Omar-led govt of being “mere spectators”. “J&K is the only Muslim-majority region in the country, and yet it is here that a major mosque is shut down on Eid, denying people their right to offer prayers. If govt claims everything is normal in J&K, why is the Mirwaiz not allowed to offer prayers,” Mehbooba said.Asked about the restrictions, BJP functionary and J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darkshan Andrabi declined comment. “Jamia Masjid doesn’t come under Waqf Board,” she said.
