ibn sultan
Srinagar, March 20: Kashmir’s chief cleric on Friday claimed that he was placed under house arrest and prevented from offering congregational Friday prayers at the historic for the third consecutive week during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a post on the social media platform X, Mirwaiz said that although no written order of detention was served, a large number of police and security personnel were deployed outside his residence in the Nigeen area. He stated that lanes and entry points were blocked with concertina wires and traffic movement was restricted to stop him from reaching the mosque and delivering the Friday sermon.
He also shared photographs purportedly showing security forces and police vehicles stationed outside his residence.
The Mirwaiz, who traditionally delivers the Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta locality, said the restrictions reflected what he described as “panic of the rulers.” He added that the centrality of Jamia Masjid for Muslims in the region has long been a point of contention and that attempts to undermine religious institutions and identity would not succeed.
