Kashmir’s leading religious leader barred from Friday prayers yet again

On February 9th, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief Muslim preacher of Kashmir, was placed under house detention in order to prevent him from leading prayers at the prominent Jamia mosque in Srinagar. 

The detention was deeply hurtful for the Muslim population of Srinagar as Mirwaiz was supposed to give a special sermon on the occasion of Shab-e-Meraj (Night of Ascension). The night has great importance in Islam, and Muslims in the valley observe the occasion with deep fervor. 

A large number of people were expected at the mosque for Mirwaiz’s sermon, but India stationed police vehicles and military outside the main gate of Farooq’s residence, preventing him from leaving.

Since the abrogation of Article-370 in 2019, India has rarely allowed congregational prayers in Jamia mosque of Kashmir valley, the most prominent and central mosque in the lives of the locals, and Mirwaiz has only been allowed to lead Friday prayers thrice since then.