Srinagar, Feb 14 (KNO): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq condemned the government's action of disallowing him to address the faithful at the historic Jama Masjid on Friday, claiming he has been informed that there is a threat to his life.
“I want to ask the rulers that now that they have provided me with so much protection, why am I not allowed to go to Jama Masjid?,” Mirwaiz said.
In a video message, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Mirwaiz said it was condemnable that he was time and again disallowed from going to Jama Masjid on Fridays.
"Yesterday, on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Baraat, not only was I put under house arrest but the Jama Masjid was also forcibly locked down and people were prevented from gathering," he said. "Today, I was not allowed to visit Jama Masjid. As the Mirwaiz, I have always tried to discharge my responsibilities religious, milli and political responsibilities, to the best of my ability, and have advocated for peaceful means of resolution of issues through talks, which In Sha Allah, I will continue to pursue."
Closing down of Jama Masjid which holds a special significance in the lives of Muslims of the valley causes them great pain and hurts the sentiments of the entire population, Mirwaiz said. "To do so in the name of maintaining law and order is ridiculous, especially when tall claims of normalcy are made."
Mirwaiz Umar added, “As for me, a huge cordon of security bandobast has been put around me and I'm informed that there is a great threat to my life. My movement is subject to the approval of authorities. I want to ask the rulers that now that they have provided me with so much protection, why am I not allowed to go to Jama Masjid? Do people who have threat perception and are provided with security, not move around? Are they also put under house arrest? I do not know what to make of these strange contradictions."
Mirwaiz asked the authorities to "stop this infringement" on his "personal freedom and liberties" and not prevent him from going to Jama Masjid on Fridays. "It’s very painful for me and the thousands of people who come there to hear the sermon and for all Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir. I also ask them to desist from locking down Jama Masjid the religious and spiritual centre for the people of J&K,” he added—(KNO)