![]() In Kashmir, the Friday sermons at the mosques would often refer to the Kashmir conflict. Post abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019, scores of Muslim religious leaders were among more than 5,000 people arrested by the government. You can imagine how much religious freedom we have,” Ansari added.Īs per reports, seven individuals have been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for their alleged involvement in raising anti-India and “pro-Azaadi” slogans at a Muharram procession in Srinagar. “The mourners were booked under anti-terrorism law (UAPA). Unfortunately, you don’t have a right to practise religion in Kashmir,” Ansari told .Īnsari maintained that freedom of religion was never allowed in Kashmir, however, post-Augthe situation has gone from bad to worse. “It was for the first time when mourners were showered with pellets and teargas. Senior Shia leader and President of Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari said that although the restrictions on Shia mourning processions has existed for nearly three decades now, the “latest pellet terror was unusual.” Locals maintain that for over a year now, on festivals like Eid people have been prevented from exercising their religious rights and disallowed from congregating. “For more than a year the Jamia Masjid was closed and now it’s difficult to pray there due to fear of contracting COVID-19, ” Shaban told, adding that “security forces remain encircled around the mosque usually.” Suhail Ahmad from Budgam was hit by pellets on his face and eyes while he was in a Muharram procession. Shaban sees more restrictions on the right to practice one’s religion ever since the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked. Since August 5 2019, when the disputed Himalayan region was stripped of its partial autonomy and put under a crippling lockdown, padlocks have been hanging from the doors of the famous mosques and shrines across Kashmir valley.Īlthough the restrictions were lifted a year later on 17 August 2020, local people were not allowed to open major mosques and shrines in the Valley.įor 49-year old Mohammad Shaban, a resident of Nowhatta area of Srinagar, where Kashmir’s oldest mosque Jamia Masjid, the situation has changed post abrogation of Article 370. However, this year, the authorities decided to impose a blanket ban on such rallies and processions in view of COVID-19. ![]() Only small mourning rallies and processions with certain restrictions would be permitted in the areas having sizable Shia populations. ![]() It may be noted that in Kashmir Valley, an official ban remains in force on organizing mourning rallies and processions along select traditional routes on the 8th and 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. They argue that Shia mourners are attacked during rallies since the inception of militancy in the Valley. ![]() The prominent Shia leaders maintain that this is not the first time that Shia mourners have been met with force. However, in some areas the Shia mourners took out rallies asserting that they were following the SOP’s, resulting in clashes. The admin had urged the heads of religious organizations to use their influence and make people aware of the importance of following COVID-19 SOPs including social distancing protocol and use of face masks while commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS). The administration in Kashmir had earlier announced a complete ban on holding of such rallies given the spike in COVID-19 deaths and positive cases in the Valley. On 28 August as many as 200 Shia mourners were reportedly injured when the police fired teargas canisters and pellet shotguns to disperse a Muharram procession in Bemina and Zadibal area of Srinagar city.Īccording to reports, over 100 youths were hit with metallic pellets while 10 received grievous injuries in eyes and may not be able to see for the rest of their lives.
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