Closure of Srinagar’s Jama Masjid on Shab-E-Barat Draws Strong Criticism

Jammu: Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid was once again locked on Tuesday evening, preventing congregational prayers on Shab-e-Barat, a night of deep spiritual significance for Muslims. The decision taken by government officials horrified worshipers and disappointed the mosque’s caretakers, especially since the festival falls on the 15th night of Shaban according to the Islamic lunar calendar and is traditionally celebrated with night prayers.

According to Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, officials accompanied by police arrived earlier in the day to convey that mass Isha prayers and private night vigils would not be allowed. The board of directors was instructed to immediately lock the doors of the mosque. Soon after, armed police units were deployed around the Grand Mosque to prevent people from gathering.

In his statement, Auqaf explained that the instruction came shortly after the afternoon prayer and that the police insisted that the mosque remain closed throughout the night despite preparations for the holy ceremony. The organization expressed its deep sorrow over the disruption of another major religious event and noted that the head of the organization, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq, was placed under house arrest. The statement claimed that the repeated restrictions since 2019 amounted to a clear intervention in the religious rights of the community.

Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric, Mirwaiz Umar, echoed this sentiment in his post on ‘X’ and lamented that while mosques in Kashmir and beyond were illuminated for Shab-e-Barat, the Valley’s largest mosque remained closed under surveillance. He described the closure as part of long-standing restrictions on religious gatherings and questioned the narrative of “normality” often put forward by authorities.

He said, “On this holy night, while the mosques in the region are burning with prayers, Jama Masjid Srinagar is also kept under surveillance. Another closure and I continue to be detained at home.” He added: “Sheb-e-Barat joins a long list since 2019 when prayers were forcibly stopped at the Valley’s largest mosque. No reason was given, just doors locked and silence. For those beating the drums of ‘normality’ and ‘Naya Kashmir’, this contrast needs an explanation.”

Anjuman Auqaf strongly condemned the authorities’ approach and called for a re-evaluation of policies that prevent peaceful religious gatherings at the historic mosque. Despite repeated calls, authorities have not made a specific statement about the latest closure, describing it only as a “preventive” or “precautionary” measure. A police officer, speaking anonymously, suggested this was intended to prevent potential law and order problems, but did not explain how praying inside a mosque could pose such a risk.

Authorities had previously cited the murder of Deputy Police Chief Muhammad Ayub Pandit outside the mosque in 2017 on the night of Shab-e-Qadr, which is the night when, according to Islamic belief, the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, as the reason for the increased restrictions. On June 22 that year he was captured by an unruly mob, robbed, and then beaten to death.