Muslims being forced to come on streets, says Madani on Waqf Bill
New Delhi: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani extending his support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) planned protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill in New Delhi on March 13 said Muslims are being forced to come out on the streets to reclaim their rights.
According to Kashmir Media Service, he said, for the past 12 years, Muslims have shown great patience and tolerance. However, when the concerns of Muslims about the Waqf properties are being disregarded and an unconstitutional law is being forcibly imposed, there is no other option but to protest against it.
He emphasised that peaceful protest for religious rights is the democratic right of every citizen.
“Since the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill, we have been making every possible effort democratically to convince the government that Waqf is a purely religious matter. Waqf properties are donations made by our ancestors for the welfare of the community, and therefore, we cannot tolerate any government interference in them,” he said.
He pointed out that the decision to refer the bill to a joint parliamentary committee was just a pretense as the suggestions and advice of opposition members were rejected.
He said that from the very beginning, his group maintained that Muslims cannot accept any law that changes the nature of Waqf or the intent of the donor (Waqif), as Waqf is a religious obligation established by the Qur’an and Hadith.
“We cannot accept any law that goes against Shariah. Muslims cannot compromise on their Shariah at all, as this is a matter of their rights and their existence. The current government wants to take away the rights granted to Muslims by the country’s constitution by bringing a new Waqf Amendment Act. Along with fighting through the legal process, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will also use all democratic and constitutional means with Muslims, other minorities, and justice-loving people,” said Maulana Madani.
