Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU) and the Muslim Personal Law Board (MPLB) have united in their strong opposition to the Indian government’s proposed Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the bill faced unanimous condemnation at an extraordinary meeting held in Srinagar, chaired by IIOJK’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam. The assembly discussed the broader implications of the bill on the Kashmiri Muslim community, including the challenges of inter-sectarian unity and the house arrest of senior APHC leader and MMU head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Participants passed a resolution describing the bill as anti-Islamic and harmful to the essential tenets of Waqf.
The resolution argues that the bill encroaches on the Islamic principle of Waqf, asserting that such properties are under the protection of divine law and should not be subject to government intervention. This bill, as stated by the meeting’s resolution, violates these principles by proposing regulatory changes deemed detrimental to the autonomy of Waqf properties.
The MMU has conveyed their objections directly to the Indian government, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the bill and urging religious leaders and scholars throughout occupied Jammu and Kashmir to mobilize community support against the bill during Friday prayers. The collective response highlights significant concerns about potential government intrusion into religious practices and the administration of Islamic properties.