Geelani condemns Jamia Masjid siege, curfew on Jummatul Wida

HELD SRINAGAR: All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has condemned the imposition of curfew and lockdown of Jamia Masjid on the occasion of Jummatul Wida.

Syed Ali Geelani in a statement described the restrictions on Jummatul Wida as “unacceptable and unjustified”. He said that the puppet administration was practically nonexistent, while those sitting in Nagpur (the RSS headquarters) ruled the roost.

He strongly denounced the house arrest of Hurriyat leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ayaz Akbar and Muhammad Ashraf Laya and said that they were continuously being barred from performing their religious obligations.

On one hand, huge expenses were being incurred and special provisions were being made to facilitate Yatra and on the other hand, restrictions were imposed and people were barred from offering prayers even on Jummatul Wida, he deplored.

Referring to continued illegal detention of Hurriyat leaders, he said that since long these leaders were languishing in different jails.

He demanded immediate release of all illegally-detained Kashmiris before Eidul Fitr.

He also expressed deep grief over the demise of the mother of Mass Movement Chairman Fareeda Behanji.