Two Uttar Pradesh based clerics are seeking the state advocate general’s consent for a criminal contempt case against the Barabanki district magistrate (DM) and the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) for their alleged role in the demolition of a 100-year-old mosque at Ram Sanehi Ghat, reported Hindustan Times. Maulana Mohammed Faizan, Imam of the Eidgah ar Barabanki is one of the two who have sought the AG’s consent as required by the procedure laid out before any criminal contempt against the administrative officers is initiated for. He is quoted saying, “Demolition of the 100-year-old mosque was sheer misuse of power and an attempt to hurt one’s religious sentiments. It was also a violation of high court orders not to take any such steps till May 31, following the Covid situation.”

On May 17, following the orders of the SDM’s court, the Ram Sanehi Ghat mosque was demolished. The Guardian, had reported that the destruction of the Mosque violated a High Court order ruling to protect it till May 31. As per the documents held by the mosque committee, the place of worship had stood for at least six decades, perhaps more. However, police and other security services cleared the area of people, and bulldozers were used to demolish the mosque”. It was reported that the “debris was then thrown into a river” hence leaving no or little ‘evidence’ of the destruction. This destruction, which can have a long lasting negative impact, was done in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

While the district administration continues to maintain that the mosque was an “illegal construction”, it is on the records of the Sunni Central Waqf Board documents as ‘Tehsil Masjid’ for the last six decades, reported the BBC. Those in charge of the mosque told the media that it is even older, as the record books came into existence much later than the structure. The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board called the administration’s action illegal, and was likely to challenge it in the High Court.

Maulana Mohammed Faizan told HT that the demolition was a rude shock for him and for the people of the community who had been offering “namaaz” there since ages. He said, “I don’t remember the time and date when the mosque—Gareeb Nawaaz — that was in the tehsil compound at Ram Sanehi Ghat, Barabanki, got constructed. What is known to all is that our father and grandfather, too, had offered namaz here and we too have been offering namaaz here since ages. Hence, its demolition was a setback for all of us.” 

The other cleric, Wasif Hasan, co-mutwalli (co-caretaker) of Teelay Wali Masjid in Lucknow, too, has sought consent from AG for the initiation of the criminal contempt added the HT report. According to Hasan this consent is a part of procedure. He said, “For a private individual to initiate criminal contempt requires consent of AG of state. It is for the same reason we have approached him.” Hasan also told the media that he blamed the Barabanki administration for misleading the public by saying that the demolition was as per high court orders. However, Adarsh Singh, district magistrate of Barabanki, told the media  he was not aware of any such developments.

It may be recalled that a case had also been lodged last month at the Ramsanehi Ghat police station under IPC sections including 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged). Barabanki Police lodged a case against eight people “who were members of a committee”, this includes a former UP Sunni Central Waqf Board inspector, accusing them of “fraud and cheating” reportedly to get the mosque that was demolished registered as a Waqf property. 

According to the news report, the two clerics who have approached the AG have support from the legal team of Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), the trust which Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) had formed to look after the construction of the proposed project in Dhannipur village of Ayodhya on the five-acre land allocated in line with the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya title suit verdict. The HT quoted Athar Hussain, spokesperson for IICF as saying, “The act has badly affected our upcoming Dhannipur project, which is 20km from the site where the (Barabanki) mosque was demolished. Our project—under which a mosque, hospital, community kitchen, museum etc would come up—aims at bridging the communal and cultural differences. However, such acts often play spoilsport and create unpleasant environment for the people. We believe people responsible for creating such unpleasant situations should be punished. The maulanas will also be approaching the high court for initiation of civil contempt proceedings against the SDM for violating the high court orders.”

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In the run up to the holy month of Ramzan when Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk, Indian Muslims are faced with a peculiar situation. Ramzan is all set to begin around April 25. Therefore, at least a part of the holy month and all associated rituals will have to be observed under lockdown conditions.

The Prime Minister had initially announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown starting March 25 to curb the spread of Covid-19. This lockdown was extended on April 14 to May 3. Therefore, various Islamic spiritual leaders and groups are urging the faithful to strictly observe all lockdown and social distancing protocols during Ramzan.

Jamia Nizamia, one of the oldest Islamic seminaries in India, has said in a press release, that all ulemas and muftis have urged their followers to observe Taraweeh (special night prayers) and Iftar (breaking the daily fast) at home. The release also said, “Further, the Ulemas and Muftis have appealed to the people to follow the instructions given by the government to observe the lockdown. They should also follow the advice of health and medical experts and observe preventive measures, especially social distancing, strictly.”

On Monday, the Islamic Centre of India had also issued an advisory asking Muslims to adhere to the lockdown rules during Ramzan. On Wednesday, Mufti of Varanasi, Maulana Abdul Batin Nomani also made a similar appeal while speaking to Sabrang India’s Editor-in-Chief, Teesta Setalvad. He said, “I appeal to everyone to respect all lockdown protocols and follow all related instructions and orders strictly. Please do not step out of your homes. Please conduct prayers and all religious ceremonies within your own homes. Please do not do anything that will help the virus spread. I urge you to exercise extreme caution.”

Last week on Thursday, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, held a video-conference meeting with various CEOs and chairpersons of state Waqf Boards, urging them to ensure compliance of lockdown guidelines and social distancing protocols by members of the Muslim community during the holy month of Ramzan.

Addressing the meeting Naqvi said, “In Islamic nations across the world religious congregations have been put on hold. Even at the holy mosque in Saudi Arabia, prayer services have been suspended in wake of the pandemic. There are over 7 lakh places of religious and cultural importance to Muslims such as mosques, eidgahs, imambadas and dargahs across India where they tend to congregate during the holy month. It is now incumbent upon various state Waqf Boards and religious bodies to generate awareness make sure namaz, iftar and other religious ceremonies are performed at home.”

“You are all responsible people who understand the sensitivity of the present circumstances. I trust you to do the right thing. I’m happy to see many of you have already started spreading necessary awareness,” he added.

Naqvi also tweeted saying, “Due to Corona pandemic, religious leaders & religious-social organizations from all regions of country, have appealed to people to perform all religious rituals staying inside their home during Ramadan.”

Due to Corona pandemic, religious leaders & religious-social organizations from all regions of country, have appealed to people to perform all religious rituals staying inside their home during Ramadan.@PMOIndia #IndiaFightsCorona @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/kBq3FzPuBq

— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) April 16, 2020 

Meanwhile, the Minority Welfare, Waqf and Hajj Department of Karnataka has issued an order suspending congregational prayers and the practice of setting up food stalls on streets, both of which are a common sight during Ramzan, until May 3. They have also reportedly suspended weekly Jumma (Friday) prayers and Taraweeh, performed every day during the month of Ramzan. The order says, “Azaan shall be given at low decibel and Namaz (prayer) including Friday prayers to be performed by the Pesh Imams, Muazzans, and Masjid staff only. No public will be allowed to offer prayers in the mosque.”

This year, Ramzan is likely to begin on April 24 or 25 (confirmation awaited) and go on till about May 23. Since at least part of the holy month will take place during the lockdown, various central and state minority bodies are being urged to ensure that members of the community respect the lockdown measures.  

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