Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has voiced significant concerns regarding proposed changes to the Waqf Act. Speaking at a large Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid, he highlighted potential threats these amendments could pose to Muslim autonomy and religious freedoms.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz detailed the controversial aspects of the new bill introduced by the Indian government, which aims to alter the governance and oversight of Waqfs — Islamic endowments that typically include mosques, shrines, and religious schools. Key changes include altering the composition of the Waqf Board to potentially include non-Muslim members and even appointing a non-Muslim as the CEO, actions he described as direct interferences in religious affairs.