The management of the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar on Friday issued a notification banning photography inside the mosque and asking men and women not to sit together on its lawns.
According to Anjuman Auquaf, “Entry of photography equipment is also prohibited,” the Anjuman Auqaf Central Jamia Masjid said in the notification put up all around the mosque complex.”
It said, “Being a place of worship, visitors are requested to respect its sanctity as a mosque and observe decorum while visiting the mosque.” It is not a public park or a recreational facility. So, while clicking photographs, visitors, both locals and outsiders, should keep this in mind.
For professional purposes, permission needs to be sought from Anjuman Auqaf before taking any pictures or videos of the Jama Masjid. They said this in a statement issued here.
It further said, “People should refrain from carrying food items to the mosque, and worshippers, both men and women, should use their specific spaces while praying in the mosque, designated for both genders.”
The development came after a few people captured videos at Dargah Hazratbal that were widely condemned, and people also sought action against those who shot this video.
Those who shot the video at religious places later also released a video seeking an apology from the general public.
However, the locals have welcomed this move and said these are sacred places and everyone must respect them. “It was also observed that more people were visiting this place to capture photos,” said Asif Ahmad, a local of downtown Srinagar.
He said the men and women were also sitting on the lawns of the mosque, which is disrespectful to these religious places and should not be allowed.
The recent decision of the management is great and should have been announced earlier. Everyone should welcome this.
