Pakistan has criticised the restrictions on Shab-e-Qadr (night of power) and Juma-tul-Wida (last Friday of Ramzan) prayers in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), at the Jama Mosque in Srinigar.
A statement released by the Foreign Office reported that India had intensified its restrictions on Kashmiris during the month of Ramzan.
It added, “Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms, these curbs on Kashmiri Muslims to practice their religion and restraining them from congregating on special religious occasions in this holy month of peace and mercy.”
The Foreign Office also revealed that Indian forces had been increasingly harassing Muslim worshippers, engaging in mediated attacks and invasive surveillance.
These developments are just the latest in a series of oppressive measures taken by the Indian government in IIOJK. Previously, there were incidents of mobs desecrating copies of the Holy Quran, and burning down mosques and tearing down shrines. Now these draconian measures have extended to restriction on prayer congregations.
The statement also said, “Pakistan strongly condemns these despicable acts and calls on India to let the Kashmiri Muslims hold their religious congregations in peace and without any hindrance to their inalienable rights to freedom of religion and assembly.”
Adding, “The conduct of Indian forces defies all norms of decency and human dignity. Imposition of restrictions on religious freedoms through illegal, arbitrary, and unjustified measures is yet another brazen assault by Indian occupation forces on the human rights of the Kashmiri Muslims.”
The continuing oppression of Kashmiri Muslims, when seen next to the violent nationalism being displayed the the BJP in India, is a cause for alarm and concern.
