Srinagar, Dec 31 : The congregational Today  prayers were not held at the historic Jamia Mosque for the consecutive 21 Fridays at Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar, official sources and eyewitnesses said here.

Eyewitnesses said the security force personnel were deployed in Jamia Mosque complex early in the morning, who did not allow the members of Anjuman Auqaf of Masjid to reopen the gates for the devotees on Friday.

Shops and business establishments around the Jamia complex were also closed today to lodge a protest against the continued disallowing of Friday Congregational prayers in the Mosque.

“The authorities did not allow the congregational Friday prayers for the consecutive 21st Friday so far and 45 during this year,” the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said in a statement here.

They alleged that during the past five years from 2016 to 2020, the Mosque has been locked down for 112 Fridays.

The Anjuman said that people of Kashmir, Ulemas and the Anjuman have repeatedly been urging the authorities to allow people to offer Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid and release the Mirwaiz of Kashmir Moulvi Omar Farooq.

The Anjuman also urged the authorities to stop this “grave injustice” against the Muslims of valley and allow the opening up of the Mosque to people.

A senior police officer, when contacted, suggested to talk to civil authorities over the issue.

District Magistrate of Srinagar Aijaz Asad did not respond to phone and text messages.

Last week, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu had also written a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, urging him to allow the prayers.

“The Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, besides being the city’s main Jamia, is a place of great reverence and historical importance for the people of Srinagar. Congregational Friday prayers haven’t been allowed by the administration at the Jamia Masjid for the 20th consecutive week now,” the Mayor said in the letter.

The letter said, “While I do believe that the Masjid administration and elders, as with any place of worship, should ensure peace and disallow any politicisation, I also firmly believe that it must be unacceptable to administratively normalise the lockup of the main Jamia Masjid as a preemptive measure in perpetuity.

“If Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid are being disallowed due to Covid-19 concerns, then it seems to be a very discriminatory and selective application of those guidelines,” it added.

Muttu had requested the Lt Governor to permit the conduct of Friday Congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid in deference to the faith and sentiments of the people of Srinagar, said the letter.(UNI)