Srinagar,The Jammu and Kashmir administration did not allow the congregational Eid prayers here at the historic Jamia Masjid, the management committee of the Jamia Masjid said on Wednesday.
This is for the fifth straight year since the abrogation of J&K’s special status that Eid prayers were not allowed at Jamia.
On Tuesday, the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Auqaf announced that the Eid prayers would be held at Srinagar’s historic mosque on Wednesday morning.
“After Fajar (morning) prayers today police personnel closed the gates of Jama Masjid Srinagar and informed the Auqaf that Eid Ul Fitr prayers scheduled for 9.30 am were not being permitted at Jama Masjid today,” a statement issued by the Auqaf said.
It added the chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also placed under house arrest early Wednesday.
Anjuman said “this action represents a distressing infringement on our religious freedoms and rights of our Muslim community, marking the third instance within the week that faithful devotees have been unjustly denied access to their largest place of worship.”
“Previous occurrences, including during the significant observances of Juma Tul Vida and Shab Qadr, have already caused considerable distress and disappointment among people,” the Anjuman said.
“The consistent denial of access to the mosque, especially during pivotal moments of spiritual reflection and communal prayer, is not only deeply disrespectful but also exacerbates the sense of alienation and grievance among the faithful,” it added.
Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the closure of Jamia Masjid for Eid prayers terming it “an interference in religious matters”.
Meanwhile, Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, was celebrated across Kashmir with fervour.
The biggest gathering of Eid prayers was witnessed at Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal lake. Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were among those who offered prayers at the shrine.
Across Kashmir men, women and children dressed in their best thronged mosques, shrines and Eidgahs across the Valley for Eid prayers, which passed off peacefully .
The Eid festivities usually span over two days. During the festivity, the male members of the family visit houses of all their friends and relatives.