Srinagar, Aug 14 (KNO): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq on Friday said he had been placed under house arrest and barred from offering Friday prayers and addressing the congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said reacting to the restriction in a post on X, Mirwaiz said: “Placed under house arrest yet again, on the eve of the blessed month of Rabi-ul-Awwal. The repeated and arbitrary restrictions imposed on Fridays are highly condemnable.”
Questioning the repeated curbs despite official claims of normalcy, Mirwaiz said: “If the authorities themselves do not trust their own narrative of ‘normalcy’ enough to repeatedly prevent me from going to Jama Masjid, what credibility does that narrative have?”
He said, Mirwaiz greeted Muslims across Jammu and Kashmir and the world on the arrival of the blessed month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, saying the month is an important occasion to renew one’s connection with the Seerah and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and to reflect upon his message of faith, mercy, compassion, justice, good character and service to humanity.
Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid has also announced that, as per the centuries-old tradition, on Monday, August 17, corresponding to the 3rd of Rabi-ul-Awwal, Mirwaiz will deliver a special sermon at the historic Khanqah-e-Naqshband Sahib (RA), Khwaja Bazar, Srinagar, on the occasion of Khwaja Digar. The programme will be held from Zuhr to Asr prayers. People have been invited to participate in the blessed gathering and benefit from the occasion.—(KNO)