) Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat moderate chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been put under house arrest ahead of the Friday congregation, the managing body of Srinagar’s grand mosque said.
In a statement, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said Mirwaz was to give a special sermon on the occasion of Shab-e-Mehraj (night of ascent) at Jamia Masjid, as had been announced by the Auqaf.
“A large gathering of people were expected at the mosque today to hear the Mirwaiz’s sermon and participate in the blessed congregation. But early in the morning, a contingent of police vehicles was stationed outside his residence, and he was detained,” Anjuman said.
Anjum has strongly denounced the repeated house arrest of Mirwaiz, especially on Friday, disabling him from visiting Jamia Masjid to deliver the Friday sermon and participate in the mandatory Friday prayers.
The managing body of the grand mosque said that since his release from house arrest in September last year, Mirwaiz has been allowed to deliver Friday sermons on three Fridays only.
Last month, Mirwaiz was allowed to travel to New Delhi for the first time since he was placed under house arrest in August 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated. Mirwaiz had termed his visit to Delhi “purely private and personal.”.
