Pakistan condemns continued closure of Srinagar Jama Masjid on Ramazan’s last Friday

Pakistan on Friday condemned the continued closure of Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid Srinagar in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan for the seventh consecutive year as a grave violation of religious freedom and fundamental human rights.

In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan strongly condemned the continued closure of the historic mosque in Srinagar on the last Friday of Ramazan.

“Preventing worshippers from offering congregational prayers at one of the most revered mosques in the Valley constitutes a serious violation of religious freedom and fundamental human rights in IIOJK,” the statement said.

The mosque has faced repeated closures since India revoked the special status of the region following changes to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in August 2019. Since then, authorities have closed the mosque on several occasions, particularly on the last Friday of Ramazan, despite repeated calls and protests from Kashmiris.

“For the seventh consecutive year since India’s illegal actions of August 5, 2019, the occupation authorities have sealed the mosque and barred Kashmiri Muslims from gathering for prayers on this spiritually significant day,” the statement said, adding that such restrictions on religious practice, particularly during the sacred month of Ramazan, were deeply concerning.

The Foreign Office called on the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organisations, to take notice of these actions and urge India to ensure the freedom to practise religion as a fundamental human right in the territory.

Meanwhile, senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the closure, saying authorities had shut the mosque in downtown Srinagar to worshippers without citing any reason.

Drawing a parallel with the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramazan, Mirwaiz said the gates of Kashmir’s largest mosque were closed by security forces “from all sides” on Friday morning.

“As Israel has forcibly shut the gates of Masjid al-Aqsa during Ramzan, similar painful reality is witnessed here. Our hearts bleed. Shame on those who lock the houses of Allah against the faithful,” he said in a post on X.

Separately, an Indian media outlet reported that the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid also condemned the frequent closure of the historic mosque in Srinagar’s old city.

“The authorities once again locked the gates of the historic mosque from all sides and placed Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq under house arrest, preventing him from delivering the sermon and leading the prayers on this sacred occasion,” the Anjuman said in a statement.

The Anjuman noted that tens of thousands of devotees traditionally gathered at the Jama Masjid from towns and villages across the valley for the last Friday of Ramazan.

The management expressed anguish that for the seventh consecutive year, Muslims were denied the opportunity to offer prayers at the valley’s central congregational mosque.

It said such restrictions hurt religious sentiments and “amount to denying worshippers their fundamental right to pray”.

The Anjuman further said the authorities’ approach had resulted in the arbitrary closure of the Jama Masjid multiple times throughout the year, reflecting ongoing insecurity and what it termed an unjustified policy of restricting religious practices.