Srinagar, Sep 12 (PTI) – Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq alleged on Friday that he was placed under house arrest and prevented from attending congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. He described this action as unwarranted "interference" in religious practices.
"Once again, I have been placed under house arrest by the authorities on the occasion of Majlis-e-Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen at Jama Masjid, where respected ulema were to participate today," Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who also serves as Kashmir's chief cleric, stated on platform X.
He further accused the authorities of "relentless interference in our religious matters."
"Our human and political rights already stand denied, and then there is this relentless interference in our religious matters from locking us up to silencing our voice on issues ranging from the Ashoka plaque at Hazratbal to meddling with Muslim calendar holidays, to disallowing religious functions at masjids," Mirwaiz claimed.
Last Friday, a significant controversy arose in Kashmir following the vandalism of a plaque featuring the Ashoka emblem at the Hazratbal shrine. Most political parties condemned Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by having the national emblem in the mosque, demanding a criminal case against her and her immediate removal.
Mirwaiz asserted, "The pulpit of Jamia Masjid will continue to voice its concerns whether they pertain to 'religious interference' or 'blatant violation of people's rights' and their 'disempowerment'."
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