Srinagar: Authorities on Monday disallowed congregational Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and also placed Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq "under house arrest".
Eid-ul-Adha is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Jammu and Kashmir and except Jamia Masjid in in old Srinagar and Eidgah ground, worshippers thronged to mosques and Eidgahs on Monday to offer congregational prayers
In a statement, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the managing body of the mosque, said it was the sixth consecutive year that authorities disallowed Eid Prayers at Eidgah and Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
They said after Fajr ( morning) prayers on Monday, police personnel closed the gates of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and informed the Auqaf that Eid prayers scheduled for 9 AM would not be permitted at the mosque.
The statement said Mirwaiz Umar was once again placed under house arrest.
Mirwaiz Umar strongly condemned these actions, saying that this behaviour by the authorities represents a “distressing infringement on our religious freedoms and the rights of our Muslim community.”
“The consistent denial to hold congregational Eid prayers, especially during pivotal moments of spiritual reflection and communal worship, is not only deeply disrespectful but also exacerbates the sense of alienation and grievance among the people and exposes the tall claims of normalcy in Kashmir by the authorities highlighting the ongoing restrictions and the state of affairs in Kashmir,” he said.
The biggest congregation was held at Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar where former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah also offered prayers. Congregational prayers were also held in townships and villages.
Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements across the Valley.
Officials said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere , and prayers were held peacefully.
The Eid-ul-Adha festival remembers the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim, , to sacrifice his son, Ismail, when God ordered him to. The festival is also called Bakr Eid because believers sacrifice an animal, usually a goat, to mark the event.