UP madrasa sealed; Muslims denounce crackdown as discriminatory
New Delhi: The sealing of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Madrasa in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh has sparked anger and dismay among Muslims, who say the move is part of a wider campaign to target their religious and educational institutions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, District Magistrate Ghanshyam Meena ordered the closure of the madrasa in Maudha Kotwali area, claiming it lacked recognition papers.
Muslim residents and community leaders, however, called the action selective and unjust. “Education is being snatched from poor Muslim children in the name of documents. Why are only our madrasas being sealed?” asked Mohammad Irfan, a local resident. Parents said their children’s future was being put at risk, while clerics denounced the campaign as an attempt to erase Muslim identity.
Reports reveal that the crackdown extends far beyond Hamirpur. In the past year alone, authorities have demolished or sealed hundreds of madrasas, mosques, and dargahs across Uttar Pradesh, including 57 in Shravasti, 28 in Maharajganj, 42 in Farrukhabad, and dozens more in Bahraich, Balrampur, and Siddharthnagar. Rights activists say these sweeping measures are not being applied to institutions of other communities, exposing a discriminatory agenda.
Legal experts warn the actions violate Articles 25 and 30 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to establish educational institutions. “When the state seals madrasas without providing alternatives, it undermines both education and minority rights,” said Advocate Aftab Alam of the Allahabad High Court.
With thousands of Muslim children now deprived of schooling, the closures have deepened fears of systematic marginalisation. “They want to bulldoze our faith, our education, and our dignity. But we will not lose hope,” said an elderly resident of Hamirpur.
One Comment