Jammu and Kashmir religious bodies oppose Waqf Bill

Muttahida Majlis e Ulema, an amalgam of around 50 prominent religious bodies across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have urged government of India and the parliament not to pass the proposed Waqf Ammendment Bill as it is against the interests of the Muslim community and undermines their religious and community institutions.

The MMU, which is the largest representative forum of Ulema, Imams, and religious organisations in the region have also decided that Imams and preachers will collectively raise voice against the proposed Bill during the Eid Prayers on the Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of holy month of Ramazan. The MMU is led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who also addresses the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid.

"In one voice, we will appeal to the Government and the Parliament of India not to pass this Bill and to respect the religious rights and interests of Muslims of J&K and the country," the MMU said after the meeting here in Srinagar.


The MMU reiterated that the proposed Waqf Ammendment Bill is against the interests of the Muslim community and undermines their religious and community institutions.

The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema also informs that informs that on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, scholars, preachers, and Imams across J&K in their Eid sermons will collectively raise their voice against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill which the GoI intends to table in the Parliament during the ongoing session.

They have also strongly condemned and expressed deep resentment over the decision of the authorities to disallow Shab-e-Qadr prayers and Jumat-ul-Vida congregational prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar and to put Mirwaiz under house arrest.

"It is deeply unfortunate and painful that while in every part of the world, including in war-torn regions and conflict zones, people were allowed to gather peacefully to offer these sacred prayers, only in Kashmir, the biggest congregation of Muslims was deliberately disallowed and barred by the authorities," read the statement adding, "This has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the people and reflects a policy of interfering in and curbing the religious rights of the muslims of J&K."