Hurriyat Calls for March to Jamia Masjid. Will Kashmiris Follow?

Hurriyat calls to march to Jamia Masjid in Srinagar to break military siege. It has been closed for 15 weeks.

Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. (Photo: PTI)

The Hurriyat leaders issued a new protest calendar for the week of 28 October - 3 November, calling on people to break the military siege on Jamia Masjid, which has been closed ever since Burhan Wani's death. Jamia Masjid is located in the most tensed area in Srinagar, called Nowhata chowk. I covered the stone-pelting this area just 15 days ago on a Friday. Security personnel informed me that Nowhata chowk witnessed heavy stone-pelting after Wani's killing, but gradually the violence had come down, particularly in recent days.

In a strongly worded calender, Hurriyat calls for a march on 28 October to Jamaia Masjid.

Photo: Aaqib Raza Khan/The Quint

Hurriyat has been releasing a detailed calendar every week ever since the unrest struck the valley. According to some experts and security personnel, the calendar was initially followed by Kashmiris, but participation began to fall as the unrest continued.

This call of Hurriyat would be a major test of their power. It would be interesting to see how many people will come out and how far.

David Devadas, Author and Kashmir Expert

According to the security personnel, forces would be deployed across the city to discourage protesters from reaching and assembling at Jamia Masjid.

This is the first time Hurriyat has called to break the military siege. We expect congregation of protesters on Friday. But let me point out that general people of Kashmir doesn’t support or follow Hurriyat calendar. Most of them are forced to do so.

Senior Security Force Personnel, Kashmir

How Serious Is This Call?

Violence outside Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. (Photo: Poonam Agarwal/The Quint)

Hurriyat leaders email the weekly calendar to all newspapers in Kashmir on Wednesday, with some of the prominent newspapers publishing the details.

Quite a lot of Kashmiris do not want to follow the calendar but they know that it would not be wise to move out of their houses on a day when huge protest is expected on the streets. Either protesters or the security forces will stop them from being on the streets. 

Ahmad Ali Fayyaz, Opinion Writer, Times of India

Earlier, while addressing a large gathering on Friday, Hurriyat senior leaders condemned the government's interference in and targeting of Jamia Masjid in Old Srinagar. They said that this was being done to weaken its religious, social and political importance. Jamia Masjid is one of the oldest mosques and a religious centre in Srinagar where a whooping 33,333 people can offer prayers at a time.

Already, Twitter is abuzz with responses:

According to some Kashmir experts, education and businesses have been the worst hit in the unrest and the people are fatigued; they want a return to normalcy.

Unlike past Fridays, 28 October will be a big test of Hurriyat leaders’ influence – will they continue to enjoy Kashmiris’ support, or will they be spurned?