Friday prayers in Jamia after 9 weeks, Mirwaiz, his aides placed under house arrest

Srinagar: Following threats of fatwa (religious decree) by scholars, authorities allowed Friday prayers in historic Jamia Masjid in old city here after nine weeks.

Sources told Press Bureau of India that Imam Hai (chief cleric) Moulana Ahmad Sayeed Naqeshbandi led the prayers in the grand mosque in absence of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference (M), who was placed under house arrest along with his several aides.

They said that unlike past, there was no curfew or other restrictions in the old city. Last week, the Ulemas had threatened government with fatwa in case it continued with curbs on Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and other major mosques of the Valley.

The Ulema representing several Islamic organisations under the banner of Valley based Mutahida-Majlis-e-Ulema had flayed the administration for ignoring the resolution passed by the Islamic body earlier against the “brazen interference in religious affairs of Muslims.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Hurriyat conference (M) condemned the house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq besides other leaders and detention of activists of the amalgam. Administration had placed Shabir Ahmad Shah, Moulana Abbas Ansari, Moulana Masroor Ansari and Salim Geelani under house arrest, the spokesman said. Police also detained many activists of the amalgam including Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, Farooq Ahmad Sodagar, Altaf Ahmad Dar, Firdous Ahmad Bhat and Farooq Ahmad Gojri.

Soon after the prayers, meanwhile, over a hundred people staged a protest demonstration against the house arrest of Mirwaiz on ninth consecutive week.

Earlier, Imam Hai announced that the Eid prayers would be held in historic Eidgah at 10:40 am and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will address people at 9:30 am.