Taking Over Of Waqf Board

In 2022, India’s politico-military administration in Jammu and Kashmir assumed control of the Waqf Board, appointing Darakhshan Andrabi, a member of the BJP, as its chairperson. Shortly after taking office, Andrabi was granted the status of Minister of State (MoS). It is important to mention that the origins of the Waqf Board date back to 1940, a period when Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state under the rule of the Dogra Kings. At that time, it was known as the Muslim Auqaf Trust. However, with the Indian occupation of the region, significant changes began to unfold. The Muslim Auqaf Trust was eventually rebranded as the Waqf Board, and following the events of 2019, like several other such boards, it came under the direct control of the Indian government after being reconstituted under central law.As is expected in any occupied territory, the Waqf Board has been instrumentalized by pro-occupation political figures for their vested interests. Parties like the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have utilized it for their vote bank politics. However, despite the fact that a majority of Kashmiris do not adhere to the practice of grave-worshiping which is often associated with these shrines, the people of Kashmir continue to hold all Muslim Shrines and Khanqahs in deep reverence. These sites have been reflecting their cultural and historical significance since hundreds of years.

Controlling Religious Institutions

The occupying Indian state had planned the crackdown on Masajid’s well before it robed Kashmir of its semiautonomous status in 2019. In 2017, an assessment report prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) suggested a total control of Masajid’s, Madrasa’s, print and TV media to “change the political atmosphere of the valley”. Immediately after the nullification of 370, Imaam’s across the valley were summoned to the nearest army camps and directed to deliver sermons highlighting the benefits of scraping Article 370 of the Indian constitution (آرٹیکل 370 کے خاتمے کی فضیلت).

Almost 20 days before the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the puppet police of Jammu and Kashmir issued a circular directing its SP-level officers to gather information about all the Masajid’s across Kashmir. The circular directed these officers to also collect information of Imaam’s, Khateeb’s and their ideological affiliations. After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the Indian occupying state has accelerated its war against the very faith of Kashmiris. The occupational regime is increasingly tightening its control on Muslim religious spaces in the region. During the ongoing massacre of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Waqf Board has ordered preachers to not mention any atrocity being perpetrated by the Zionists on Palestinian people. Not only this, the board has strictly prohibited them from even making any Dua’s (special prayers) for the oppressed Palestinian people who are facing unprecedented violence from the settler colonial state of Zionists. After some Imaam’s protested against the move, they were told that they can make Dua’s in Arabic language and not in Urdu or Kashmiri. Waqf has now become the de facto authority over all Masajids across Kashmir. It continues to monitor sermons made by Imaam’s and Khateeb’s in several shrines and Masajid’s across Kashmir. It is important to note that the Board runs major shrines including Dargah Hazratbal, the Shah Hamdan and the Sultan-ul-Aarifeen in Srinagar. It is ironic that the shrines of those who brought Islam to Kashmir centuries ago are now controlled by the BJP. The same BJP notorious for its anti-Muslim policy is responsible for incidents such as the lynching of Muslims in India, the Gujarat Massacre, the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, and the construction of the Ram Mandir at the same site where the Babri Masjid once stood. The puppets of this board have now “centralized” the recruitment of Imaams, Khateeb’s and Muezzin’s. The Imaams and Khateeb’s will now deliver scripted sermons and preach whatever BJP’s Darakhshaan Andrabi and her bosses in Nagpur find necessary. For the first time in more than 600 years, Eid and Friday prayers were not allowed in Khanqa-e-Moula Srinagar.

Counseling Sessions by Major Rank Officers of Indian Army

It all began immediately after the revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Following the collection of information on all the Masajid’s, the local Imaam’s and khateeb’s were summoned to the nearest army camps in the evening hours across Kashmir. At these meetings, high-ranking Indian Army officers would conduct lectures on various topics, instructing them on what to include and what to avoid in their Friday and Eid sermons. Hindu officers in the occupying Army thus officially began the practice of imparting guidance to Muslim Imaams and khateebs on the content of their Islamic sermons. In the northern parts of Kashmir, at least 41 Imaams were detained on charges of delivering sermons critical of the Indian state’s policies in Kashmir. In two villages near the Chillora Army Camp, local young men were subjected to torture while loudspeakers blared their screams, reaching the ears of every resident in the nearby villages.Initially, these occupying Army officers focused their lectures on the “benefits of removing Article 370,” but over time, their topics have diversified. According to a recent report, Indian occupying officers, in collaboration with BJP members, are instructing some Imaams to emphasize the “positive role of Narendra Modi” during the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict. These officers assert that “Modi has saved hundreds of lives by sending crucial aid to Gaza” and that Muslim leaders across the globe should take a lesson from him. In central Kashmir’s Budgam, a Shia cleric was summoned after he criticized Israel for killing innocent people in the Gaza Strip. He was told by a high-ranking officer of the Indian Army that “No one will stop us if we decide to dismantle your mosque along with you, just as Israel is doing.” In another incident in Shopian, a group of Imaams were instructed to encourage people to invite Army officers to their functions and seek their assistance on numerous issues related to the development of their villages. Indian Army is increasingly tightening its control over Masajids across Kashmir. An Imaam is now supposed to remain in touch with major-ranking officers in Indian Army.

Promoting Passive Islam?

Following the events of August 5th, India has been formulating new strategies to counter the popular sentiment and exert total control over religious spaces in Kashmir. The Indian Army, in collaboration with the local Jammu and Kashmir Police, is compelling Imaams and Khateebs to adhere to their directives. By gaining influence over the pulpits, their aim is to shape the religious discourse in the region. The scripted sermons, which Imaams and Khateebs are now expected to deliver, must align with the pro-occupation narrative.These calculated efforts are not only intended to sway public opinion but also to leverage the deeply ingrained respect for religious authorities to quell dissent and further the Indian agenda in the region. The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, as well as local panchs and sarpanchs, are effectively serving as frontline agents in the exploitation of faith. They are transforming places of worship into platforms that promote the occupying regime’s narrative. The takeover of the Waqf Board represents the first step in this process, not because the Waqf or the shrines under its purview represent Kashmiri Muslims, but because the occupying state seeks complete control over religious spaces in the region and this trust can be effectively used for this project. This control over the trust is merely a component of a broader plan to influence the practice of Islam in the region.India is systematically utilizing Sufism to influence religious discourses and reshape our understanding of Islam. The version of Sufism they wish every Kashmiri to embrace can best be propagated through the Waqf Board. Their intention is to disconnect us from our cultural and religious roots by first introducing a form of Sufism that erases our fundamental understanding of Islam. This is a precursor to what they refer to as ‘Ghar Wapsi’ – a process of renouncing Islam and converting to Hinduism. This strategy is part of their broader agenda to Brahmanize Kashmir, as they view Islam as the core problem that in their view was “imposed” on us centuries ago.This war against our religion has intensified, with the occupying authorities summoning religious scholars who resist their initiatives and framing them in false cases, along with employing various other tactics. Besides Waqf, Indian agencies have employed some lesser-known unscrupulous wannabe writers to propagate Sufism in the valley. These merchants of conscience have started a systematic campaign to distort realities and are unabashedly aligning themselves with our tormentors. Without any consideration for the sentiments of the Kashmiri people, they are shamelessly engaged in defaming our religious Rehbars in the most disgraceful manner.

We Have to Fight Back

Our occupiers, driven by a nefarious design, aim to domesticate and disfigure Islam to suit their agenda. They attempt to rewrite the narrative, to redefine our beliefs and practices and erase the essence of our faith that has been a beacon for generations. Recognizing this dangerous plot and fighting against it with every possible means is crucial. Now, more than ever, we must hold onto the true teachings of Islam, the principles of justice, compassion, and unity. Our occupiers attempt to exploit divisions, to sow discord among us. We must not allow them to succeed. Our Masajids, shrines, and sacred spaces are not tools for manipulation; they are symbols of our strength, resilience, and shared heritage. In the face of this religious warfare, it is our duty to remain steadfast. We must resist the attempts to dilute our faith, to alter the core principles that have guided us for centuries. Our resistance is not just against a physical occupation but against the colonization of our minds and hearts. Let us use every means at our disposal to fight back against this assault on our Muslim identity. Educate ourselves and our communities about the true teachings of Islam. Preserve the authenticity of our religious spaces by guarding against external influence. Remember, our strength lies in our unity, our resilience, and our unyielding faith. United, we can thwart the designs of those who seek to diminish our identity. Stay strong, stay united, and let the light of our true Islam guide us through these challenging times.