Srinagar, Aug 20: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir, amalgam of all ulemas and leading religious organisations on Friday expressed its reservation and condemned the repeated closure of all major places of worship in Kashmir under the guise of Covid-19.
In a statement the MMU headed by incarcerated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed strong reservation and condemned the repeated closure of all major places of worship in Kashmir including the Jama Masjid Srinagar, Asar-e-Sharief Dargah Hazratbal, Khanqahe Maula, Astan Aliya Dastgeer sb, Astane Aaliya Makhdoomi sb, Aastane Aliya Naqshband and others, by the authorities, under the guise of Covid-19.
MMU said that inspite of all Covid prevention protocols being in place and complete adherence to all Covid -19 related SOPs, authorities are not allowing people to offer Friday prayers at these key religious places .
“This is causing anguish and anger among the people as it hurts their religious sentiments and comes in the way of fulfilling their religious obligations.”
MMU said that in view of the holy days of Muharram-ul-Haraam and the significant decline in the Coronavirus graph one would normally expect that authorities would facilitate arrangements for the ease of worshipers, but on the contrary restrictions are being imposed deliberately to prevent people from exercising their basic religious rights.
It asked those in charge of decision-making to stop harassing people in this manner, and allow people to pray in peace in their mosques dargahs and khankahs.
MMU said that if by next Friday all major places of worship are not opened for worshippers, it will hold a meeting to deliberate on this grave matter, where the future course of action will be decided and people will be informed accordingly.
It also called for the immediate release of its head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is under illegal house arrest for the past two years. kns