Srinagar, Nov 03 (KNS): Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid President and Mirwaiz Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq has expressed dismay over the continuous closure of Jama Masjid for Friday prayers over the past few weeks.

In a statement, issued to KNS, he said it is unfortunate that religious freedom is repeatedly held hostage to fear of people voicing their concerns or expressing their feelings, this time in support of hapless Palestinians being bombed and killed with impunity.

Mirwaiz said people lf Kashmir may not publicly be allowed to express their emotions and support for Palestinians, but who can laying claim to being a human not being moved and pained by their plight.

“It is obvious that people of J&K along with all conscientious people of the world including many Jews, naturally stand in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians. Although what can we do for them, except pray; if someone can help them it is the leadership of nations,” he said.

He said that it is painful that world powers are witnessing the genocide happening there and yet they are unmoved. “Young children and innocent civilians are being killed in thousands and instead of stopping the carnage, the world powers are instead arming Israel to kill more people.”

He said that this is a big challenge for the international community especially yhe United Nations and the OIC, who so far have failed in preventing this ongoing massacre and give justice to the Palestinian people.

He further said that after more than 4 long years of detention and going to the court, last month he was released. “But soon it became clear that the release is selective and at the discretion of the authorities who decide when and where I may be allowed to go and communicate and when and where I should be stopped.”

He said that as the matter is still before the high court and coming up for hearing next week, he hopes relief will be given to him.

“I am unable to understand what my status is and what the government wants, as I am released one day and detained for several days. In the last three weeks I was also stopped from addressing people in connection with the Urs of Hazrat Peer Dastgeer Sahib and Sarai Bala,” he said. (KNS)