Saurabh Mukherjee
Authorities in Srinagar locked down the historic Jamia Masjid on Monday, March 31, preventing worshippers from offering prayers as Kashmir prepared to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramazan.
Reports suggest that devotees were turned away from the mosque, sparking criticism from religious and political leaders.
Kashmir’s chief cleric and chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, condemned the move, stating that the decision to bar Eid prayers at the Jamia Masjid and Eidgah reflected an “oppressive and authoritarian approach” in the region.
He also claimed that he had been placed under house arrest ahead of the prayers, preventing him from delivering the traditional Eid sermon.
In a video statement, Mirwaiz expressed his deep anguish over the restrictions.
“Eidgah and Jama Masjid belong to the people. Barring them from these sacred spaces even on Eid reflects an oppressive and authoritarian approach that prevails in Kashmir today,” he wrote in a post on X.
He further asserted that the denial of Eid prayers was part of a broader effort to suppress the religious rights of Kashmiri Muslims.
"I am deeply pained and strongly condemn the authorities decision to once again deny the Muslims of Kashmir the basic right to offer Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jama Masjid which have been closed down and I have been detained at home," he added.
The decision comes just days after authorities locked down the Jamia Masjid for Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida prayers, moves that had already drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and other political groups in Kashmir.
Mirwaiz also recalled that even at the peak of militancy in the 1990s, Eid prayers were held at Eidgah, which has now been shut down.
“Even at the peak of miltancy during 1990’s Eid prayers were offered at Eidgah, so now when huge claims of “normalcy" are made everyday by the authorities, why are Muslims being kept away from their religious places and practices? What is the agenda? Is the collective identify of Kashmiri Muslims a threat to the rulers ?” Farooq questioned.
A day before Eid, Anjuman Auqaf, the managing body of the Jamia Masjid, had announced that Mirwaiz would deliver the Eid sermon at Eidgah at 10 a.m. or, if the weather did not permit, at the Jamia Masjid.
The organization urged authorities to allow the prayers and respect the religious sentiments of the people.
The Anjuman also criticized previous restrictions on congregational prayers during Ramazan, particularly on Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida, saying such actions had caused “widespread resentment and hurt” among the people.
“It is expected that such actions will not be repeated on this sacred occasion,” the managing body stated.
However, with the lockdown of Jamia Masjid on Eid, concerns over religious freedoms in the Valley have only deepened.
Reports suggest that devotees were turned away from the mosque, sparking criticism from religious and political leaders.
Kashmir’s chief cleric and chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, condemned the move, stating that the decision to bar Eid prayers at the Jamia Masjid and Eidgah reflected an “oppressive and authoritarian approach” in the region.
He also claimed that he had been placed under house arrest ahead of the prayers, preventing him from delivering the traditional Eid sermon.
In a video statement, Mirwaiz expressed his deep anguish over the restrictions.
“Eidgah and Jama Masjid belong to the people. Barring them from these sacred spaces even on Eid reflects an oppressive and authoritarian approach that prevails in Kashmir today,” he wrote in a post on X.
He further asserted that the denial of Eid prayers was part of a broader effort to suppress the religious rights of Kashmiri Muslims.
"I am deeply pained and strongly condemn the authorities decision to once again deny the Muslims of Kashmir the basic right to offer Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jama Masjid which have been closed down and I have been detained at home," he added.
The decision comes just days after authorities locked down the Jamia Masjid for Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida prayers, moves that had already drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and other political groups in Kashmir.
Mirwaiz also recalled that even at the peak of militancy in the 1990s, Eid prayers were held at Eidgah, which has now been shut down.
I am deeply pained and strongly condemn the authorities decision to once again deny the Muslims of Kashmir the basic right to offer Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jama Masjid which have been closed down and I have been detained at home
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) March 31, 2025
Even at the peak of miltancy during 1990’s Eid… pic.twitter.com/Q5kstVUlq8
“Even at the peak of miltancy during 1990’s Eid prayers were offered at Eidgah, so now when huge claims of “normalcy" are made everyday by the authorities, why are Muslims being kept away from their religious places and practices? What is the agenda? Is the collective identify of Kashmiri Muslims a threat to the rulers ?” Farooq questioned.
A day before Eid, Anjuman Auqaf, the managing body of the Jamia Masjid, had announced that Mirwaiz would deliver the Eid sermon at Eidgah at 10 a.m. or, if the weather did not permit, at the Jamia Masjid.
The organization urged authorities to allow the prayers and respect the religious sentiments of the people.
The Anjuman also criticized previous restrictions on congregational prayers during Ramazan, particularly on Shab-e-Qadr and Jummat-ul-Vida, saying such actions had caused “widespread resentment and hurt” among the people.
“It is expected that such actions will not be repeated on this sacred occasion,” the managing body stated.
However, with the lockdown of Jamia Masjid on Eid, concerns over religious freedoms in the Valley have only deepened.
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