SRINAGAR (Kashmir English): Muslims around the world celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with all religious freedom on Monday but the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were stopped from offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid and Eidgah in occupied Srinagar city.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Anjuman Auqaf of Jamia Masjid in occupied Srinagar had announced that the Eid-ul-Fitr congregational prayers will be offered at the historic Eidgah in occupied Srinagar at 10:00 am and also asked the authorities not to create any hurdles in this regard.
However, the joy of Eid was marred by stringent restrictions imposed by India’s Hindutva regime led by BJP in the occupied territory.
The BJP regime headed by the non-Kashmiri communal LG Manoj Minhas prohibited the Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid and the Eidgah.
The tradition of celebrating Eid alongside Pakistan underscores the deep cultural and religious ties between the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan.
The BJP-led government has escalated its anti-Muslim policies as imposing restrictions on Eid celebrations in occupied Kashmir.
This time, the authorities cited construction work as an excuse to bar the worshippers from offering Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid. Hurriyat leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have strongly condemned the move.
Uttar Pradesh also bans Eid prayers on streets
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh also banned offering Eid prayers on the streets, with violators facing the threat of passport and driving license cancellations. In Haryana, Eid holidays were revoked entirely.
Hurriyat leader Abdul Hameed Lone has denounced the ban on Eid prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar, calling it a blatant interference in religious matters.
He said that the Indian government is depriving Kashmiri Muslims of their fundamental religious rights, which constitutes a grave violation of human rights.
Lone further highlighted that similar restrictions were imposed earlier on the Jumu’atul-Wida congregation at Jamia Masjid, proving that the religious freedom of Kashmiri Muslims is being systematically suppressed.
