The Crossbill Team
Authorities in Kashmir imposed precautionary restrictions in several parts of the Valley on Friday (March 13) amid concerns of demonstrations following the last Friday prayers of Ramzan. The curbs were reported in parts of Srinagar and other sensitive areas, particularly localities with a significant Shia population, as officials anticipated protests linked to the observance of Juma-tul-Vida and Youm-ul-Quds.
Juma-tul-Vida, the final Friday of the fasting month, is observed by many Muslims across the world as Youm-ul-Quds to express solidarity with Palestine. Officials said restrictions on the assembly of people were imposed early in the morning as a preventive measure to maintain law and order.
Sporadic protests broke out in parts of Kashmir on Friday (March 13) against the US-Israel military aggression in Iran which has killed hundreds and displaced millions of civilians in West Asia.
The protesters raised slogans against the US and Israel aggression in Iran, and in support of Palestine. The officials said that the protests have remained peaceful so far and added that the situation is being monitored closely.
Authorities closed the Jamia Masjid, Kashmir’s largest mosque in the summer capital Srinagar, on Friday morning while restrictions were reportedly imposed in the Shia-dominated areas of the valley amid apprehensions of law and order breakdown. However, anti-US and anti-Israel protests broke out in a few places of Kashmir which remained peaceful.
The largest demonstration took place in central Kashmir’s Budgam town where thousands of protesters, some of them carrying the posters of Iran’s newly elected Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his assassinated father Ayatollah Ali Khameni, took to the streets after the last Friday prayers of the ongoing month of Ramzan. Chanting slogans in favour of Iran and the country’s newly elected leader, the protesters called for an end to the US and Israel’s ongoing attacks on Iran.
A peaceful protest was also held at Khomeini chowk in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar where dozens of Shia mourners beat their chests in a ritualistic practice to commemorate the battle of Karbala.
The Shias in Kashmir and in many parts of the world observe the last Friday of Ramzan as Quds Day, established in 1979 by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem.
According to reports, peaceful protests were also reported from other parts of Srinagar and Budgam, and north Kashmir’s Baramulla district during which protesters burnt the flags of Israel and United States and the effigies of their leaders.
Meanwhile, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that the authorities closed the Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar for worshippers without citing any reason. Drawing parallel with the ongoing closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Israel’s holiest city of Jerusalem during the Ramzan, Mirwaiz said that the gates of Kashmir’s largest mosque were closed by security forces “from all sides” on Friday morning.
“As Israel has forcibly shut the gates of Masjid al-Aqsa during Ramzan, similar painful reality is witnessed here. Our hearts bleed. Shame on those who lock the houses of Allah against the faithful,” he said in a post on X.
Mirwaiz said that thousands of worshippers from all parts of Kashmir used to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan at the historic mosque located in Nowhatta locality of downtown Srinagar.
“For the 7th consecutive year, the rulers have denied permission to Muslims to pray here,” he said.
Authorities have in the past cited fears of law and order breakdown to impose curbs around the 14th century mosque in downtown Srinagar which used to be an epicentre of protests when Jammu and Kashmir was a state.
In a statement, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the mosque’s managing body, said that Mirwaiz was put under house arrest and stopped from delivering the Friday sermon. It denounced the “unjustified policy of restrictions on religious practices” in Kashmir.
“Muslims have been denied the opportunity to offer Jumatul Vida (last Friday of Ramzan) prayers at the Valley’s central congregational mosque. Such restrictions not only hurt the religious sentiments of the people but also amount to denying worshippers their fundamental right to pray in the house of Allah,” the statement said.
Despite scattered demonstrations in some areas, officials maintained that the situation across the Valley remained largely peaceful, with security forces continuing to monitor developments closely.
Juma-tul-Vida, the final Friday of the fasting month, is observed by many Muslims across the world as Youm-ul-Quds to express solidarity with Palestine. Officials said restrictions on the assembly of people were imposed early in the morning as a preventive measure to maintain law and order.
Sporadic protests broke out in parts of Kashmir on Friday (March 13) against the US-Israel military aggression in Iran which has killed hundreds and displaced millions of civilians in West Asia.
The protesters raised slogans against the US and Israel aggression in Iran, and in support of Palestine. The officials said that the protests have remained peaceful so far and added that the situation is being monitored closely.
Authorities closed the Jamia Masjid, Kashmir’s largest mosque in the summer capital Srinagar, on Friday morning while restrictions were reportedly imposed in the Shia-dominated areas of the valley amid apprehensions of law and order breakdown. However, anti-US and anti-Israel protests broke out in a few places of Kashmir which remained peaceful.
The largest demonstration took place in central Kashmir’s Budgam town where thousands of protesters, some of them carrying the posters of Iran’s newly elected Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his assassinated father Ayatollah Ali Khameni, took to the streets after the last Friday prayers of the ongoing month of Ramzan. Chanting slogans in favour of Iran and the country’s newly elected leader, the protesters called for an end to the US and Israel’s ongoing attacks on Iran.
A peaceful protest was also held at Khomeini chowk in Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar where dozens of Shia mourners beat their chests in a ritualistic practice to commemorate the battle of Karbala.
The Shias in Kashmir and in many parts of the world observe the last Friday of Ramzan as Quds Day, established in 1979 by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem.
According to reports, peaceful protests were also reported from other parts of Srinagar and Budgam, and north Kashmir’s Baramulla district during which protesters burnt the flags of Israel and United States and the effigies of their leaders.
Meanwhile, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that the authorities closed the Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar for worshippers without citing any reason. Drawing parallel with the ongoing closure of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Israel’s holiest city of Jerusalem during the Ramzan, Mirwaiz said that the gates of Kashmir’s largest mosque were closed by security forces “from all sides” on Friday morning.
“As Israel has forcibly shut the gates of Masjid al-Aqsa during Ramzan, similar painful reality is witnessed here. Our hearts bleed. Shame on those who lock the houses of Allah against the faithful,” he said in a post on X.
Mirwaiz said that thousands of worshippers from all parts of Kashmir used to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan at the historic mosque located in Nowhatta locality of downtown Srinagar.
“For the 7th consecutive year, the rulers have denied permission to Muslims to pray here,” he said.
Authorities Lock Jama Masjid Gates on Jumatul Vida; @MirwaizKashmir Placed Under House Arrest
— Mirwaiz Manzil-Office of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir (@mirwaizmanzil) March 13, 2026
Mirwaiz Says Closure of Jama Masjid Echoes Israel’s Locking of Masjid al-Aqsa in Ramzan
Srinagar, March 13, 2026: Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid has strongly condemned the continued closure… pic.twitter.com/1PEabdWkZp
Authorities have in the past cited fears of law and order breakdown to impose curbs around the 14th century mosque in downtown Srinagar which used to be an epicentre of protests when Jammu and Kashmir was a state.
In a statement, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, the mosque’s managing body, said that Mirwaiz was put under house arrest and stopped from delivering the Friday sermon. It denounced the “unjustified policy of restrictions on religious practices” in Kashmir.
“Muslims have been denied the opportunity to offer Jumatul Vida (last Friday of Ramzan) prayers at the Valley’s central congregational mosque. Such restrictions not only hurt the religious sentiments of the people but also amount to denying worshippers their fundamental right to pray in the house of Allah,” the statement said.
Despite scattered demonstrations in some areas, officials maintained that the situation across the Valley remained largely peaceful, with security forces continuing to monitor developments closely.
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