Srinagar: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar on Friday condemned the continuous restrictions on Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq saying that he continues to remain barred from giving sermons in the mosque since 5 August, 2019 and said it hopes that he will be released in the upcoming holy month of Islam, Rabi-ul-Awwal.
Anjuman in a statement said that like the previous several Fridays, additional police and other paramilitary forces were deployed today outside the Nigeen residence of the religious preacher.
“Since 5 August 2019, Mirwaiz’s has not been allowed to deliver any Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid due to his continuous arbitrary and illegal detention; and a large number of Muslims from across the valley who come to Jamia Masjid Srinagar to offer Friday prayers and benefit from Mirwaiz’s sermons have been deprived of it due to his continued house arrest,” the statement said.
Anjuman said after the LG’s statement, they had hoped that the Mirwaiz would be released, but that has not happened so far.
It is pertinent to mention that recently J&K LG Manoj Sinha told in an interview with BBC that Mirwaiz is a free man and the forces are deployed around his house for his safety as his father was assassinated by militants.
However, the anjuman has hopes that as the holy month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the blessed month of the birth of the Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Mirwaiz will be released so that to he can disseminate the universal message of humanity, brotherhood and tolerance of the Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (SAW), as before, it said.
Meanwhile, Anjuman also said that post Covid, Jamia Masjid has been closed for prayers for 14 Fridays by the authorities, this year so far.
(KNO)
