Srinagar, Sep 08 (KB): Authorities have put Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest ahead of Khuwaja-Digar prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Naqshband Sahib (RA) in Srinagar.
Sources close to Mirwaiz, told news agency Kashmir Bulletin that Mirwaiz is under house arrest and will not be leading annual Khuwaja Digar prayers at Naqashband Sahab in Srinagar.
Prayers at the shrine are an annual religious congregation that draws together thousands of devotees from all over the region, Khuwaja digar prayers are scheduled to be offered at 5:10pm today.
Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid in a statement issued here to news agency Kashmir Bulletin said, that authorities have once again ruthlessly placed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest since early morning today.
Those governing us ignorant about our religious and cultural traditions, show no respect for them said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as quoted by Anjuman Auqaf in a statement
Today, the 3rd of Rabiul Awal is an important day in the Islamic Calender. For generations on this day Muslims of Kashmir gather at the Naqsband Sahib, Srinagar to participate in the Khoja Digar. At the Khoja Digar, the special focus is the sermon delivered by the Mirwaiz, statement reads.
People eagerly await this occasion where as a community they have gathered for generations for spiritual upliftment and deliverence.
For 5 years we have been deprived by the authorities who are uninformed and oblivious of the importance of these garherings for the spiritual solace of Kashmiri Muslims.
Today after 5 years of tribulation the people were eagerly awaiting the special Majlis-e- Istigfar and Tauba on the occasion of Khwaja Digar at the Naqshband Sahib where the Mirwaiz would delivers the important sermon after a gap of 5 years.
However, the authorities in total disregard of our sentiments barred the Mirwaiz once again from being able to fulfil his religious and social obligation
Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid strongly condemns this blatant interference in our religious affairs. It is deeply unfortunate that those in authority and governing us are totally ignorant about our religious and cultural traditions and show no respect for them.
Thousands of people are eagerly awaiting Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s sermon, which was to be a majlis seeking forgiveness, benediction and grace from Allah.
The Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid demands that the authorities immediately lift the house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and allow him to deliver his sermon on the special occasion of Khwaja Digar Urs.
It is important to mention that, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday feared that he may not be allowed to lead Khuwaja Digar Prayers and may be kept under house arrest till the end of UT elections. (KB)
