Mirwaiz not allowed to deliver sermon: Jamia Masjid managing board

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was supposed to deliver sermon in connection with the Urs of Hazrat Peeran-e-Peer Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani and pay homage to the saint and scholar of Islam

Hurriyat chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not allowed to deliver sermon at Aastan Aaliya Dastgeer Sahib Khanyar on Wednesday.

Last month, the Mirwaiz was released after four years under house detention and he led Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid in the old city. (HT File Photo)

Farooq was supposed to deliver sermon in connection with the Urs of Hazrat Peeran-e-Peer Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani and pay homage to the saint and scholar of Islam, Anjuman Auqaf, the managing board of Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid said in a statement.

From two weeks, the Friday prayers were not allowed at Jamia Masjid in the city as security forces had apprehensions that there could be protest in support of Palestine. The grand mosque was closed and police personnel were posted outside.

“Mirwaiz was not allowed to deliver sermon at Aastan Aaliya Dastgeer Sahib Khanyar. Such actions of the administration are unjustified, shedding light on the stark disparity between their claims of normalcy and the harsh reality on the ground.This is the fifth year in a row that Mirwaiz Kashmir has been detained in his residence and not allowed to carry out his religious responsibilities,” the Auqaf said in a statement, adding that the authorities are not giving any concrete reason for their actions.

The Anjuman added that a large number of people had gathered to listen to the sermon but had to return with disappointment due to his “detention”.

Last month, the Mirwaiz was released after four years under house detention and he led Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid in the old city.