A proposal by the Waqf Board in Indian-administered Kashmir to implement uniform Friday sermons across mosques has faced backlash from political and religious critics. They accuse the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of attempting to control Muslim religious practices. The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, chaired by Darakshan Andrabi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced the initiative last weekend, which has been met with significant opposition from local Muslim scholars who deem it an inappropriate interference in religious affairs.
Andrabi defended the proposal, stating that a committee formed under the board would oversee the content of the sermons, which she claims is necessary to address social issues, including drug abuse. She asserted that religious scholars would approve the sermons without government involvement. However, a scholar who attended a recent meeting indicated that there was a lack of clarity regarding the committee's composition and expressed concerns about adherence to Islamic teachings.
The region of Kashmir has a long history of political turmoil, particularly following the revocation of its semi-autonomous status in 2019, which led to direct federal rule. This change has prompted accusations from local leaders that the Waqf Board is undermining religious freedoms and interfering with traditional practices.
Nayeem Akhtar, a former education minister in Kashmir, criticized the board's actions, suggesting that it exceeds its managerial role by attempting to dictate how clerics should conduct their sermons. He emphasized that every cleric should have the freedom to address topics of their choice, a principle he believes is fundamental to the law.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a prominent religious leader in the region, warned that the proposal represents direct interference in religious matters, a sentiment echoed by the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, a coalition of religious organizations. Following the backlash, Andrabi retracted her earlier statement, clarifying that independent scholars would have the discretion to address social issues in their sermons.
This incident is not isolated, as the BJP-led administration has faced criticism for its control over local religious institutions. In January, police distributed a form for profiling mosques, which raised concerns about privacy and discrimination among Muslim scholars. Restrictions on prayer and access to significant religious sites have also been reported, with leaders arguing that these measures infringe upon the rights of Kashmiri Muslims.
Political analysts suggest that the government's attempts to standardize religious practices may be a strategy to preempt protests amid rising Hindu nationalism in India. The historical context of Kashmir's political landscape indicates that any changes to religious arrangements are likely to provoke significant political responses.