Black Armband Protest Against Waqf Amendment Bill in Irba on Jumma-Tul-Wida
Ranchi: The Muslim community’s dissatisfaction with the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 continues to grow. The community believes that this bill will increase government interference in the administration of waqf properties, negatively impacting religious and social institutions.
In this context, on the occasion of Jumma-Tul-Wida, Muslim devotees in Irba Jama Masjid, Masjid-e-Belal, Masjid-e-Umar Farooq, Masjid-e-Hera, Masjid-e-Usman Gani, Masjid-e-Yunus, Masjid-e-Quraisha, Masjid-e-Aayesha, and Masjid-e-Khadijatul Kubra staged a peaceful protest by wearing black armbands.
After the Friday prayers, they demanded an immediate reconsideration and withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Maulana Samiul Haq Mazahiri emphasized that if the government does not review this bill, the community will formulate a further strategy and continue its protest through constitutional and democratic means.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has also expressed deep concerns about this bill, stating that its implementation could impact:
Religious properties such as mosques, Eidgahs, madrasas, dargahs, khanqahs, and cemeteries. Charitable institutions and social structures within the Muslim community. Autonomy in religious and social activities due to increased government intervention.
After Jumma-Tul-Wida prayers, peaceful protests were held in all major mosques across urban and rural areas, where people wore black armbands in silent protest to express their sentiments. The protest remained entirely peaceful, with no slogans or aggressive activities. Community leaders have urged the central government to reconsider the bill and engage in extensive discussions with all stakeholders. They emphasized that the Muslim community will take all constitutional measures to protect the autonomy of its religious and social institutions.
This peaceful protest witnessed participation from Hazrat Maulana Akram Qasmi, Mufti Abu Ubaida, Mufti Furqan Qasmi, Maulana Samiul Haq Mazahiri, Maulana Rashid, Qari Ayyub Hasan Falahi, Imtiyaz Ohdar, Advocate Shahid, Naeem Ansari, Sarfaraz Shahidi, Sajid Ansari, Rizwan Ansari, Naushad ( Babu), Afsar Imam, Tabrez Alam (Pappu), Zahid Ansari, Qayam Ansari, Naushad Anwar, Imroz Alam, Javed Ansari, Pappu Jidan, Mainul Ansari, Dil Afroz, Lal Babu, Tausif, and hundreds of others.
