SRINAGAR: Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been put under house arrest by the authorities on Friday, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said in a statement.

Additionally, authorities have closed the historic Jamia Masjid, a significant religious center, on this last Friday of Ramadan.

The actions, implemented by the administration, have been confirmed by Anjuman Auqaf.

Mirwaiz was released from house detention in September last year, more than four years after he was placed under house arrest in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 by GoI in August 2019.

The authorities again placed curbs on his movement in the first week of October and prevented him from attending any religious gatherings, including Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.

The Mirwaiz was again allowed to attend Friday prayers and other religious congregations a week ahead of the Ramzan fasting month.

SRINAGAR: Inspector General of Police Kashmir VK Birdi on Friday extending his greetings on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida to the people.

The Kashmir Police Zone, while quoting IGP Kashmir posted on X Platform, "IGP Kashmir extends greetings to the people of the valley on the auspicious occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida. May this day be filled with special prayers and abundant blessings for all, reads the post.

Jamat Ul Vida marks the beginning of the Eid Al Fitr, this day is considered an auspicious day as per Islamic Calendar. People recite the Holy Quran. People celebrate this day with immense joy and happiness. This day is observed with great devotion. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was on Friday allowed to offer congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid after five months, officials told PTI.

“Mirwaiz was allowed to move out of his residence in Nigeen locality of the city here this afternoon,” an official said.

After leaving his residence, Mirwaiz reached the Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area of the city and offered the congregational Friday prayers there, officials said.

Mirwaiz was first kept under house arrest in August 2019 when GoI abrogated Article 370.

While he was released in September last year — after four years — and allowed to pray at the Jamia Masjid for some weeks, he was detained again in the wake of protests against the Israeli action in the Gaza Strip.

Mirwaiz had moved the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court against curbs on his movement.

The court on February 21 gave the “last and final opportunity” to JK administration to file a reply on it.

SRINAGAR: The management body of Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid on Friday claimed that authorities have placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief priest of Kashmir, under house arrest.

“Mirwaz Umar Farooq has again been put under house arrest today ahead of the Friday congregation in Jama Masjid. Mirwaz was to give a special sermon today on the occasion of Shab-e-Mehraj at Jama Masjid, as had been announced,” the Anjumam Auqaf Jama Masjid said in a statement.

A large number of people were expected at the mosque for the Mirwaiz’s sermon, it said, adding the authorities stationed police vehicles outside the main gate of Farooq’s residence at Nigeen, PTI reported quoting the statement.

"Anjuman strongly denounces the repeated house arrest of Mirwaiz especially on Friday, disabling him from visiting Jama Masjid to deliver the Friday sermon and participate in the mandatory Friday prayers,” the management body said.

Mirwaiz was released from house arrest in September last year after remaining confined to his home for more than four years.

However, the authorities allowed him to visit Jama Masjid only for three Fridays. His movement in Srinagar remains restricted on Fridays since the latest flare up in Israel-Palestine conflict in October last year, reported the news agency.

SRINAGAR: For the sixth consecutive Friday, the congregational prayers were not allowed at Kashmir’s historic Jamia mosque.

The Chief Cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the Hurriyat Conference head was placed under house arrest, the managing body of the mosque said.

Anjuman Auqaf, termed the administration’s decision to disallow Friday prayers for the sixth consecutive Friday at the grand mosque and placing Umar Farooq under continued house detention as “incomprehensible and greatly disturbing”.

“The grand mosque is being repeatedly targeted under the pretext of the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel,” the Anjuman said in a statement. It also criticised the authorities for detaining Mirwaiz.

The Anjuman said that while prayers have been banned in Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli state since it launched a war against Palestinian people, locking down Jama Masjid in Kashmir belies the claims of normalcy by the administration here.

“The continuous ban on Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid, and undue restrictions on the activities of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslims of Kashmir and negate the claims of normalcy.

So the authorities should revise their decision and allow prayers at the grand mosque and let Umar Farooq Sahib carry out his religious duties as the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, the Auqaf said.

Since October 13, the Friday prayers have not been allowed at Jamia mosque as authorities apprehend that there could be protests in support of Palestine. (UNI)

SRINAGAR:  Friday congregational prayers were not allowed for the fifth consecutive week at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid amid fears of protests over the civilian deaths in Palestine.

A statement by the Anjuman-e-Auqaf, the managing body of the Jamia Masjid, said authorities directed it early in the morning to close down all the doors of mosque as Friday prayers will not be allowed to take place .

It added that detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is the mosque’s chief cleric, also continued for the fifth consecutive Friday.

“Repeatedly disallowing Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and detaining the Mirwaiz is a highly regrettable and authoritative decision which causes great anguish and disappointment among the Muslims of the state and offends their religious sentiments,” the statement added. (UNI)

Srinagar: Incumbent Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will lead Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta Srinagar after a gap of four years, official sources said.

They told GNS that the administration has taken the decision after due consultation with different law enforcement agencies. 

Notably, Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on August 4, 2019 when the Government of India revoked Article 370 and 35A besides the State was bifurcated and downgraded to two Union Territories - J&K and Ladakh. (GNS)