Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq barred from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid

Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said he was not allowed to offer congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid here. The Friday prayers were allowed at the historic grand mosque in the Nowhatta area of the city, but Mirwaiz, who is the chief priest of Kashmir and delivers the Friday sermon at the mosque, was not allowed to move out of his residence in Nigeen, located in the outskirts of the city. Mirwaiz denounced his repeated "house detention," especially on Fridays, to prevent him from delivering the Friday sermon and offering obligatory Friday prayers.