Muslims Across States Condemn Pahalgam Attack, Hold Protests After Friday Prayers

Muslim communities across India held protests after offering Friday’s congregation prayers to express anguish over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed at least 26 civilians - including one Nepali. They wore black armbands and raised slogans condemning the terrorist attack.

"Muslims of the country are with the families of 26 people who lost their lives in Pahalgam terror attack. Whenever any terror attack happens in the country, Muslims of India always condemn it,” a person said in Kolkata, PTI reported.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday urged muslims to wear a black armbands to unitedly send a message to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba that their “ barbaric, inhuman, and oppressive act” is condemned by Indian muslims.

He was seen distributing armbands outside the Shastripuram mosque in Hyderabad before the jumma namaz.

In the evening, a candlelight vigil would be led by Telangana’s Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy from People’s Plaza to Indira Gandhi Statue, The Hindu reported.

Local media from Assam’s Barak Valley - situated at the foothills of the Himalayas - reported that muslims gathered outside Silchar’s Boro Masjid to silently protest the terror attack. “Terrorism has no place in Islam. We are staunchly against terrorism. Islam teaches peace and bonhomie,” Hazrat Maulana Sabbir Ahmed, the leader of the congregational prayer, said.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal - which witnessed communal violence last year - people gathered after the prayers and held placards denouncing terrorism, PTI reported.

Muslims waved India’s national flag outside Delhi’s historical Jama Masjid after the namaz.

In Delhi, over a 100 markets, including Sardar Bazaar, Bhagirath Place, Gandhinagar, Naya Bazar, Khari Baoli, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, and Hauz Qazi, participated in the bandh on Friday.

A person participating in the protest in Bihar’s Patna said that, “every Indian is pained by this incident and condemn it. We request our PM and home minister that we the people are with you, please take strict action."

Tuesday’s terror attack has unleashed a raft of punitive diplomatic measures between India and Pakistan, including cancelling all visas, suspending the 1960s water treaty and stopping all trade. 

The terror attack has also triggered a spike in targeted attacks against Kashmiri Muslims residing outside their home state.