Al Quds & Kashmir Day celebrated in Kashmir

 (Huge Gatherings held)
Srinagar: The last Friday of the Holy month of Ramzan (Jumat-ul-Wida) was celebrated all over the world as Al Quds Day – and political-awarded Muslims around the world poured into streets to remind themselves and others that Muslims’ third most sacred city Al-Quds (Jerusalem) is occupied by foreign non-Muslims and it’s every Muslims’ religious and moral obligation to recover it.
In Kashmir this day is being celebrated as “Kashmir Day” also.
The Day was observed across the valley with massive gatherings in mosques and shrines across the valley, with lakhs of people attending congregational prayers with fervour and devotion. Processions were taken out in several places after Friday prayers decrying the US-backed Israeli aggression in Palestine and atrocities of India in Kashmir.
The protestors chanting slogans against America, Israel and India rejected the occupation of Israel and Kashmir.
Various programmes were organized across the valley after Friday prayers.
These largest functions were held at Hazratbal, Jamia Masjid , Pather Masjid, Jamia Masjid Anantnag, chari sharief , Jamia Masjid Baramulla, Imambara, Arampora (Pattan), Jamia Mosque, Syedpora (Sopore) and several other parts of the state.
Several Separatists leaders addressed the Friday prayers and expressed its solidarity with people of Palestine and condemn day programmes in Jamia Sajjadia, Chatabal (Srinagar).
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addresses congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid to mark the occasion, it said.
The last Friday of Ramzan was instituted as the yaum-al-quds, or Quds Day, by the leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, in support of the liberation of the Masjid-al-Aqsa, or the Holy Quds, in Jerusalem from Zionist occupation.
The day is observed throughout the Muslim world in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for justice, and was later designated by the Kashmiri leadership to symbolize the movement in this region as well.
Quds and Kashmir Day was observed, today, to draw world attention towards the fact that the people in Kashmir and Palestine have been deprived of their inalienable right to self-determination. Call for the observance of the Day had been given by the both factions of the Hurriyat.
The two leaders in their addresses to public gatherings in Jamia Masjid and Pathar Masjid in Srinagar, today, demanded withdrawal of Indian troops from Kashmir, repeal of black laws, release of illegally detained youth and Hurriyat leaders and recognition of Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory by India.
Later, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani led big processions in Srinagar and the participants raised anti-India and pro-liberation slogans.
The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday vowed to take the ongoing movement to its logical conclusion and reiterated his unification call.
Addressing a Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid on the occasion of Jamait-ul-Vida which is being observed as Youm-e-Kashmir, Mirwaiz passed many resolutions including to carry on the struggle for right to self-determination.
Mirwaiz also reiterated his unification call to the pro-freedom leaders.
The authorities have booked, Aasiya Andrabi and Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, under draconian Public Safety Act.
Aasiya has been shifted from Srinagar to Kot Bhalwal jail, Jammu, while Sumjhi to Udhampur jail.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik staged a huge pro-liberation demonstration in Charar-e-Sharief. Similar protests were staged in Sonawari, Anantnag, Sopore, Budgam and other areas.
APHC leader, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi led a demonstration in Budgam. Clashes were witnessed between protesters and Indian police in Sopore.
Maulana Abbas appealed the United Nations and OIC to take cognizance of atrocities on Kashmiris during the recent protests.
Later on a huge procession was taken out from Jamia Sajjadia to Karanagar Chowk in which thousands of people participated chanting pro Islam and pro freedom slogans.