Srinagar, Oct 16 (KNS): The All Parties Hurriyat conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who continues to be under illegal House arrest strongly condemned the forcible closure of Jamia Masjid Srinagar by the state authorities and disallowing thousands of people from offering congregational Friday prayers there. 

APHC in a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the earlier pretext of closing the mosque for preventing the spread Covid-19 stands totally exposed. 

“The grief and deep hurt this reprehensible act caused the people who for decades have been offering prayers in this central mosque cannot be expressed in words.”

The statement reads that the environment created in J&K by the rulers is so suffocating and intimidating that no one can dare raise their voice to ask why even the basic right to offer prayers is denied.

“All efforts are being made to silence the people of J&K into submission. The recent continuing crackdown in every nook and corner of the valley has seen arrests of more than a thousand people so far, picked up by the authorities, and then illegally detained on criminal charges and draconian laws. Teachers journalists, traders, youngsters or anyone the authorities want is to summon them to police stations for questioning in an environment of fear and reprisal so overwhelming that no one dare ask why, but has to oblige.”

APHC said that this systemic oppression and environment of intimidation to choke people, furthers alienation and dissent, with many youngsters opting for violent means to resist. 

“And in this manner the vicious cycle of violence and bloodshed keeps feeding the Kashmir conflict, with human costs and the violation of human rights borne by the people. All appeals of peaceful conflict resolution fall on deaf ears,” it reads.

APHC said that no amount of repression and denial to engage in resolving the conflict will wish it away and there is no alternative but to resolve the Kashmir dispute. (KNS)