Hurriyat (M) Saturday condemned the continued house detention o its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who was barred from leading the congregational Eid prayers at historical Eidgah in downtown city and termed it as “interference” in his religious duties.In a statement issued to KNS, spokesman of Hurriyat (M) said for the last 6 years the Mirwaiz has been disallowed from offering congregational prayers on this important day.“After fasting for a month Muslims are enjoined to gather and offer congregational prayers thanking Allah for the special blessings during the holy month of Ramzan. On this day it is mandatory for the Mirwaiz to offer Eid Khudbah at Eidgah, this is a tradition followed since centuries, hundreds and thousands of people await his important Khutba on this day. Not allowing the Mirwaiz to offer Eid prayers and Khutba is a deliberate interference with his religious duties and a blatant denial of the religious and social rights of the people of Kashmir. It is another evidence of how we live under military occupation,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz addressed the congregation at Eidgah over the phone and stressed that these restrictions were imposed to distance the leadership and the people as the government greatly fears their interaction and wants to muzzle the collective voice of the people.Mirwaiz reiterated that there is no option for the state but to address the Kashmir issue in accordance to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. The Mirwaiz said that our struggle for our rights will continue and these tactics will only further strengthen our resolve. He urged upon both India and Pakistan to initiate a meaningful and result oriented process to resolve this issue by involving the people of Kashmir whose destiny is at stake in this long standing political dispute. He expressed his concern about the recent flare up at the Line of Control and urged the two states to stop the firing immediately, so that the people can celebrate Eid peacefully.Meanwhile after the Eid prayers at Eid Gah and other parts of the valley there were wide spread protests in favour of freedom and against the detention of the Mirwaiz and other pro freedom leaders. (KNS)