Srinagar: Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), the largest conglomerate of Islamic religious organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, has expressed deep concern and raised serious questions about the ongoing police exercise in the Valley seeking extensive and intrusive information regarding mosques, their management committees, imams, khatibs and individuals associated with places of worship and even their family members .
MMU in a statement said it has learnt that detailed multi-page forms are being distributed by the police seeking highly personal and sensitive information, including private identification details, family particulars, financial information, phone details , digital and social-media profiles, passport details , travel history and even Phone IMEI details other personal data of all those connected with running and management of mosques. Besides the mosques ideological sect identification — Barelvi, Hanafi, Deobandi or Ahle-Hadith, is also being sought. Such an unprecedented and invasive data-collection exercise has caused widespread anxiety among religious institutions , imams Khateebs and the public in general.
MMU categorically states that this exercise is in complete violation of fundamental rights and the right to privacy and personal information even guaranteed under the Constitution. Mosques are sacred institutions meant for worship, guidance and community service, and their internal religious affairs cannot be subjected to arbitrary surveillance and intrusive scrutiny. The nature and depth of information being sought goes far beyond any routine administrative requirement raising serious questions of intent , reflecting an attempt to control and regulate religious institutions through coercive means and checks .
That this exercise is specific only to the Muslim community of jammu and Kashmir is again suspect of motives .
MMU strongly feels that the elected government must immediately intervene in this matter. Such an exercise must be stopped forthwith, as it undermines trust, creates fear among religious functionaries and sends a disturbing message to the Muslim community of the state . Measures that single out mosques and religious personnel in this manner are unjustified, counter-productive and harmful to social harmony.
Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema urges the LG authorities to withdraw this exercise without delay, to respect the autonomy of religious institutions, and to uphold the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, privacy and dignity of citizens.
MMU will convene a meeting of its constituent members and senior religious leadership shortly to deliberate upon the issue and decide the future course of action, if the exercise continues.
