Hussaini Flag Will Be Hoisted At Lal Chowk As Before: Masroor

Srinagar: Identifying and recognizing the traditional routes of two major Muharram processions in Srinagar by the J&K administration is a welcome move, Itihaad-ul-Muslimeen President Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari said on Tuesday.

Masroor however said any conditional permission for the processions of 8th Muharram and Ashura in Srinagar after a blanket ban of nearly three decades was unacceptable.

“The procession of Imam Hussain (as) is not bound by any order and the mourners of Imam Hussain (as) had been carrying out mourning processions in Srinagar for the last three decades without heeding the government restrictions and this process would continue”,  Masroor said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

Maulana Ansari emphasised that these mourning processions will be carried out with dignity and in this regard the Shia community of Kashmir will not take a step back from its principled position.”

“The order to allow these processions to be carried out inside the Sarkari Char Diwari is not acceptable to the mourners. We have been challenging these restrictions at the legal and grassroots level for the last three decades and will continue to do so if necessary,” he said.

He expressed hope that Shia clergy and the mourners would not take out the alternative processions through the bylanes of Zadibal’s interiors and would instead reach Guru Bazar and Abi Guzar on 8th and 10th Muharram and join the processions on their traditional routes.

“I hope that all ulema would visit Grubazar & Abi Guzar on 8th & 10th to carry out these 2 processions & Shia organisations will stop alternative & parallel processions in the inner streets of Zadibal in these days & will take out the unified procession on the traditional routes.”

The IuM President also urged mourners to follow coronavirus related guidelines and SOPs issued by the government.

He also urged the government to allow prayers at Jamia Masjid and lift ban on Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi processions as they lifted ban on Muharram processions.

Pertinently, Masroor’s statement came a day after the government modified its earlier order on Muharram processions stating that appropriate decisions for suitable action will be taken by the District Magistrates’ in consultation with police, health and other stakeholders.