Locking up historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Shab-e-Barat is a brazen violation of fundamental rights and religious freedom guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, said former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
“Locking up Jama Masjid on the auspicious occasion of Shab e Barat is a brazen violation of fundamental rights & religious freedom guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. May Allah Ta’aala give us strength to get through these tough times. Shab-E- Baraat Mubarak,” read PDP leader’s tweet.
Her tweet comes minutes after Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said that the authorities have barred Shab-e-Barat prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Kashmir.
“Authorities disallow Shab-e-Baraat Prayers at Jama Masjid Srinagar. Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid informed that concerned police and administration officials came to Jama Masjid Nowhatta and locked the gates of the Masjid at 5.30 pm informing the Anjuman that as per the orders of DC Srinagar no Shab-e-Barat prayers will be allowed to take place at Jama Masjid today,” Hurriyat Conference said in a tweet.
“Anjuman strongly protests the highhandedness of the authorities and calls it blatant interference and violation of our religious rights,” the tweet said.
Shab-e-Barat is a cultural celebration celebrated in many South Asian, Central Asian, South East Asian and Middle Eastern Muslim countries, on the 15th night (the night on 15th only) of the month of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Two days before, Anjuman had expressed resentment as important events like Shab-e-Barat is not being held.
The Anjuman head Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq continues to be under “illegal and arbitrary” house detention since 5 August 2019, it said.
