Kashmiri head cleric detained, not allowed to perform Friday congregational prayers

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

The Indian authorities on Friday placed Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest and did not allow him to offer congregational prayers at the central mosque of the disputed region.

Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Indian-administered Kashmir, is also the chief cleric of Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, Kashmir’s largest and most influential mosque, where he delivers sermons every Friday.

“He was scheduled to visit the mosque today but was detained at his residence in the city suburbs,” the managing body of the mosque said.

Earlier this week, New Delhi banned the Mirwaiz-led Awami Action Committee (AAC), and Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari-led Jammu Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) for five years for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fueling secessionist activities.

In a statement, the managing body of the grand mosque, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, condemned the move and demanded an immediate release of the head cleric.

"This arbitrary and unjustified move by the authorities comes during the holy month of Ramadan, a month of immense spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide," it said.

The Auqaf said barring Mirwaiz from fulfilling his religious duties and preventing the faithful from benefiting from his sermons "deeply hurts the religious sentiments of the people".

"Such restrictions, especially during the sacred month of Ramadan, are completely uncalled for and go against the principles of religious freedom."