'Day of Jerusalem' - US-Israeli flags burnt in Srinagar

JUM’ATUL VIDA OBSERVED (Last Friday of Ramzan)

Anti-Zionist Protests On Al-Quds Day; US, Israeli Flags Burnt

GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, Sept 18: Jam’atul Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadhan, witnessed large congregations at the afternoon prayers all over Jammu and Kashmir today. The day was also observed as Yaum-i-Quds and Yaumi Kashmir in response to the call by both the factions of Hurriyat Conference.
At Srinagar, the biggest congregation was held at the historic Jamia Masjid where several lakh devotees, including a large number of women, joined the Friday prayers. Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressed the congregation.
Another big congregation was held at Dargah Asar-e-Sharif, Hazratbal, where also about two lakh people offered Friday prayers. The chief minister, Omar Abdullah, was among the devotees who offered the prayers.
Congregational prayers were also held at Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahlehadith, Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif, Janab Sahib, Soura; Asar-e-Sharif, Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat Dastgeer Sahib, Khanyar, Ziarat Dastgeer Sahib, Sarai Bala; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib, Khanqah-e-Mu’alla and several other mosques and shrines.
The administration had made elaborate arrangements for the conduct of prayers and transportation of devotees at the principal venues and at all other places across the city and elsewhere.
Soon after the Friday prayers, the people staged massive demonstrations at several places to protest the continued occupation of Masjid-e-Aqsa by Zionists. They burnt the US and Israeli flags. The protesters were chanting slogans for vacation of the Qibla-e-Awwal Masjid al-Quds by the Zionists, freedom of Palestine and in support of the on-going struggle in Kashmir. Anti-Israel and anti-US protests were held in various major towns and other places across the Valley.
Senior activists of Hurriyat conference (M) addressed the gatherings at different Masjids. Prof Abdul Gani Bhat addressed the gathering at Batengoo, Aga Hasan Al Mousvi Al Safvi at Budgam. The others who addressed the gathering include Saleem Geelani, Javid Ahmad Mir and others.
Earlier, lakhs of devotees joined the night-long prayers on Shab-e-Qadar in different Masjids and shrines. The large congregation function was held at Dargah Hazratbal where thousands of devotees from different parts of the valley joined the night-long prayers.

SOUTH KASHMIR
Heavy rush of devotees was witnessed at various Masjids in South Kashmir. Thousands of devotees offered Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Ahle-Hadith in south Kashmir’s Islamabad town. Large congregations were witnessed also at Jamia Masjid Reshi Bazaar, Sheikh-ul-Alam Masjid, Masjid Shareef, KMD adda, Masjid Noor, KP Road, Masjid-e-Baitul Mukarram.
Reports of Jumatul Vida congregations were also received from Ka’aba Marg, Asar-e-Sharif Pinjora, and other parts of south Kashmir.

NORTH KASHMIR
In north Kashmir’s Varmul district, large congregations were witnessed in Astan-e-Aliya Khwaja Sahab, Astan-e-Aliya Janbaaz Wali (RA) and Masjid Baitul Mukarram.
In the apple town of Sopur, the largest congregation was held at Jamia Masjid and Khanqah-e-Mu’alla while other districts also witnessed a heavy rush of devotees.

JAMMU
Reports of big Friday congregations on Jum’atul Vida have also come from various parts of Jammu region. Apart from the congregations at Talab Khatikan and Ustad Muhalla in the winter capital, thousands of people joined the Friday prayers in the principal mosques at Doda, Bhadarwah, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Banihal and several places.