Pakistan condemns closure of Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the continued closure of Jamia Masjid Srinagar in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on the last Friday of Ramadan.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said preventing worshippers from offering congregational prayers at one of the most revered Jamia Masjid in the valley constituted a serious violation of religious freedom and fundamental human rights.

The statement said that for the seventh consecutive year since India’s actions on August 5, 2019, the authorities have sealed the mosque and barred Kashmiri Muslims from gathering for prayers on the spiritually significant day.

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“These restrictions on religious practice, particularly during the sacred month of Ramadan, are deeply concerning,” the statement added.

The Foreign Office called on the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organisations, to take notice of the situation.

It also urged India to ensure the protection of religious freedom and allow the people of the region to practise their faith freely in the territory.