A conclave of religious bodies from across Kashmir was held here under the banner of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama to discuss measures to counter the government’s bars on Friday prayers in mosques, shrines and imambargahs.
A statement issued after the conclave warned that Ulama would issue a unanimous fatwa (edict) against the authorities if such restrictions continued this Friday.
The Majlis headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, said that the government’s curbs on Friday prayers were dictatorial.
“If this practice continues on the coming Friday, the Majlis will issue a unanimous fatwa against the government asking people to give full expression to their hurt sentiments at the interference in religious affairs, and uphold the glory and prestige of Islam by a vigorous reaction,” the statement said.
“The government will be entirely responsible for the fallout,” it said, appealing to people not to allow the sanctity of Fridays to be violated at any cost.
The statement comes in the wake of government’s bar on Friday prayers at the Srinagar's Grand Mosque and other major shrines and Imambargahs for the past nine Fridays ostensibly to prevent pro-independence demonstrations following weekly prayers.
The government move has evoked widespread condemnation from Muslims in Kashmir.
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