Release Mirwaiz forthwith, Imam-e-Hai petitions LG Sinha; Anjuman-e-Auqaf protests

Srinagar: The imam (prayer leader) at Jamia Masjid Srinagar popularly known as Imam-e-Hai on Friday urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to immediately release Kashmir’s head priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Addressing a Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid, Imam-e-Hai in his Friday sermon said that since August 5 last year, Mirwaiz is under house detention and not able to venture out so that he could perform his religious duties.

“Mirwaiz is not only a political leader but a religious preacher as well. Confining him to the four walls of his house is a direct interference into the religious affairs, ” he said.

“By not allowing him to address people on Fridays and other auspicious days including Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), sentiments of thousands of people are hurt badly,” Imam-e-Hai said, appealing the administration led by LG Sinha to revoke the house confinement order of Mirwaiz and order his immediate release so that he can perform his religious duties.

Soon after the culmination of Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid, members of Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the managing body of the mosque, who were joined by scores of worshipers, staged a peaceful protest outside the masjid.

The protestors were demanding immediate release of Mirwaiz. Holding banners in hands, they were raising slogans: “Mirwaiz sahab ko riha karo (Release Mirwaiz forthwith).” KNO