Convener News Desk
Bandipora, Jan 16: Senior PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar on Friday strongly criticised the police profiling of mosques in Kashmir, calling it a serious threat to religious freedom, Muslim faith and constitutionally guaranteed rights. He said such measures have created fear and uncertainty among the community and raised disturbing questions about the freedom to practise religion.
Addressing a workers’ convention at Kehneusa in Bandipora, Akhtar described the move as unnecessary and counterproductive. He said the ongoing atmosphere of arrests, surveillance and monitoring has instilled widespread fear, making it increasingly difficult for mosque administrations, caretakers and Imams to carry out their routine religious and administrative responsibilities.
Akhtar questioned the rationale behind scrutinising mosques, stating that places of worship function on public trust and community support. He pointed out that mosque funds are primarily collected through small donations made by worshippers, especially during Friday prayers, where people contribute according to their means—sometimes only a few rupees. “How can such contributions be viewed with suspicion?” he asked, adding that subjecting every donation to scrutiny threatens the very functioning of mosques.
He warned that profiling religious institutions sends a troubling message to the Muslim community and risks eroding trust between the people and the administration. Akhtar said religious spaces should not be treated with suspicion, as they play a vital role in spiritual, social and community life.
The PDP leader urged the authorities to reconsider such actions and ensure that constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are upheld. He said any step that creates fear around religious practice undermines democratic values and social harmony, and called for restoring confidence by respecting the autonomy and sanctity of places of worship.
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