Eid-ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚul-Fitr prayers were disallowed once again this year at the historic Jamia Masjid in Jammu and Kashmir's S🐻rinagar on Saturday.
Authorities barred prayers at the region's largest mosque in downtown Srinagar's Nowhatta area, the spot which has witnessed frequent clashes and political rallies in t🅺he past.
Many people who had come to oﷺffer prayers at the region's ౠlargest mosque were left dejected after seeing the gates locked.
Some people termed the prohibition an "interference" in religious matters of the region, while others said🌼 it "exposes" the administration's claim that the situation has been peaceful in Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation.
T🧜he security personnel at the gates told people that prayers will not take place at the mosque.
"Is Eid prayer a threat to peace? 🐈I fail to un𒁏derstand," said an elderly man, identifying as Ghulam Hasan.
An official told Outlook that the decision to bar prayers at the historic mosque was taken after pro-Azadi sloganℱeering took place yesterday at the mosque post congregational Friday prayers, which was also the last Friday of holy Ramadan.
The prayers were aಌlso barred at꧒ the mosque on the fourth Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Earlier, prayers were allowed at the mosque on the auspicious night of Shab-e-Qadr, when n♕ight-long prayers were held at the mosque.
Srinagar's Jamia Masjid has been continuously closed since 5 August 2019, when the r🏅egion was stripped of its autonomy and made a union territory.
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been leading prayers at the mosque, is not allowed to conduct the prayers at the mosque anymore. The administration, however, claims that Mirwaiz is a "free man", something that was also reiterated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
