Srinagar: Dr. Kamal-ud-Din Farooqi, the former Imam of Hazratbal Shrine, has publicly contested the Muslim Waqf Board’s decision to bar him from performing religious duties, asserting that the recent conversion of a man to Islam was voluntary and not coerced.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Farooqi defended his position by highlighting the long-standing tenure of his family as the Imam-o-Khateeb at Hazratbal, a role spanning over three centuries. He disputed the Waqf Board’s authority, which he claims is influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s policies in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Farooqi emphasized that his connection to the shrine is traditional and not employment-based, deeming the board’s actions as both unjustified and unacceptable.
The controversy began following accusations from the Waqf Board regarding a supposed forced conversion of a Hindu man from Haryana in April, after which Farooqi was prevented from leading prayers. During a press conference at his home, he addressed these allegations, asserting the individual’s conversion was a personal choice and should not be misconstrued as coercion. This statement came in the wake of receiving a formal notice from the Waqf Board and undergoing extensive police questioning.