Mehbooba Mufti Raises Concerns Over Profiling of Imams in Jammu and Kashmir

Controversy Surrounds Imam Profiling in Kashmir

Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed her concerns regarding the recent directive from authorities to profile Imams across various mosques in the region.

In a media interaction, Mufti criticized the initiative, suggesting that it aims to alienate the Kashmiri population from their religious practices.

She highlighted that the five-page document distributed to Imams requests intrusive details, including bank account numbers, Aadhaar card information, income sources, and even the specific school of thought the Imam adheres to. Mufti questioned the rationale behind scrutinizing different Islamic schools of thought, such as Ahle-e-Hadis, Barelvi, or Shia, emphasizing that Islam does not restrict any Muslim from attending mosques regardless of their beliefs.

Mufti drew parallels with Hindu temples, where entry can depend on caste and financial contributions, asserting that Muslims are being deprived of their religious properties under the guise of the Waqf Act. She warned of a troubling agenda being tested in Kashmir that could potentially spread to other parts of India.

Additionally, she criticized the recent decision by J&K's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to dismiss five government employees due to alleged connections to terrorism.

When questioned about the intelligence reports linking these employees to terror activities and their current detention, Mufti remarked, "These are mere accusations. No court has validated these claims. People are being dismissed based solely on unproven allegations, and this could happen to anyone of us in the future."