Prayers in Kashmir mosques for Turkey-Syria earthquake victims

SRINAGAR — Special prayers were organized in all the major mosques, shrines and imambarahs of the valley including the historic Central Jama Masjid Srinagar, for those who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this week in which the death toll crossed over 21,000 and injuries to innumerable people.

At Jamia Masjid Srinagar, the prayers were led by Imam Hai Moulana Ahmad Saeed Naqshbandi who, on behalf of the people of Kashmir, expressed sympathy and solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery to those injured.

He also expressed strong resentment against the authorities for keeping the valley’s top religious leader Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq continuously under detention for the last three and a half years and termed it extremely unfortunate and condemnable.

He said that due to the continued detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the mimbar-o-mihrab (pulpit) of the Central Jama Masjid has been constantly silent for all these years and he is also unable to discharge his religious duties towards the people.

Imam Naqshbandi appealed to the authorities to end the prolonged and unjustified detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and release him before Shah-e Me’raj-ul-Nabi (SAW).

On the occasion, the people who had come from various parts of the valley to perform Friday prayers in the Jamia Masjid also expressed great anger against the continued detention of Mirwaiz and protested against the dictatorial behavior of the authorities.