Srinagar, Dec 3: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest Friday to prevent him from offering congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid here.
 Mirwaiz, who has been prevented from offering Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid for past 12 weeks, told Greater Kashmir that the government is stamping down the religious rights of Kashmiri Muslims.
 “Now the government is snatching our religious rights after usurping our political and human rights .The interference in religious affairs would have serious consequences,” he warned.
 Mirwaiz said the restrictions and detentions have become policy of the state government to crush the sentiment and aspirations of Kashmiris. 
 “The arm-twisting tactics was now being used to prevent the people from performing their religious duties,” he said.
 Mirwaiz recently met diplomats of Muslim countries in New Delhi and apprised them about the curbs imposed on prayers in the Valley and also convened here a meeting of the Ulema to protest the siege of Jamia Masjid.
Protests against arrest of youths
Srinagar, Dec 3: Protests were staged at several places across valley following the call given Hurriyat Conference (G) against the continued arrests of youth and political leaders.
 Scores of people took roads in uptown Srinagar at Saraibala and Hyderpora locality after offering Friday prayers at Iqra Masjid. The people were protesting against the continued arrests of youth and political leaders.
 In Old city, the situation remained normal except some mild protests held near Jamia Masjid where people staged pro-freedom demonstration and later dispersed peacefully.
 Reports said protests and stone pelting was witnessed in Sopore and Singhpora Pattan areas.
 Elsewhere in north Kashmir, the situation remained normal.
 Reports of protests after Friday prayers were also received from Sherbagh, Dialgam and Kokernag areas of Islamabad in South Kashmir. In Islambad’s lalchowk nand Reshi bazaar area, stone pelting was witnessed.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 4 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST