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Srinagar, The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has vocally criticized the Indian authorities for prohibiting Jumatul Wida prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, alleging widespread curtailment of religious and basic freedoms in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a press release from Srinagar, highlighted the continuous lockdowns imposed on Jamia Masjid and the house arrest of Mirwaiz as examples of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime’s disregard for the religious rights of Kashmiri Muslims. The restrictions at Jamia Masjid, especially during significant religious occasions like Jumatul Wida, were pointed out as evidence of ongoing discrimination.
Minhas accused the Indian government of violating international human rights laws by infringing on the religious freedoms of the region’s Muslim population. He referenced the longstanding issue of access to Jamia Masjid for congregational prayers, stating this represents a broader pattern of oppression.
The APHC statement also connected these religious restrictions with broader political actions in the region, specifically the killings in Uri, Baramulla, and the abrogation of IIOJK’s special status, viewing these as part of a genocidal campaign against the Kashmiris by the Modi-led government.
The APHC called for international intervention, urging the United Nations and countries advocating for peace and freedom to hold India accountable for its actions in Kashmir, emphasizing the need to protect the rights and identity of the Kashmiri people.