Ban on Congregational Prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Barat Night

Police Seal the Mosque

(Shab-e-Barat is an important Islamic occasion during which Muslims seek Allah’s blessings and forgiveness for their past misdeeds.)

Srinagar – On the night of Shab-e-Barat, Jammu and Kashmir police denied permission for congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Additionally, separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was expected to address the gathering, was placed under house arrest. Condemning the decision, Jammu and Kashmir’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called it unfortunate, stating that closing the Jamia Masjid reflects the administration’s lack of trust in both itself and the people.

The Anjuman Auqaf, which manages the mosque, revealed that on February 13, the police ordered the premises to be vacated and later sealed the mosque.

Ban Continues for the Sixth Consecutive Year

This marks the sixth consecutive year that police have denied permission for congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Barat night. Since 2019, prayers have not been allowed at the mosque. The Anjuman Auqaf has condemned this restriction as an act of suppression, stating that such repeated restrictions not only hurt religious sentiments but also violate fundamental religious rights.

Editorial Perspective

It would not be surprising if India’s so-called secular groups, along with Western media, start labelling this as ‘Islamophobia’ and ‘authoritarianism,’ accusing India of being anti- Kashmir !