Opinion | Profiling Of Mosques And Religious Functionaries In Kashmir Valley |
The decision by the administration of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to profile mosques, madrassas, and religious functionaries, including imams, muezzins, and management committees across the Kashmir Valley, has raised concerns within the Muslim community. These concerns have been exacerbated by ignorance and negative propaganda spread by vested interests. However, when viewed objectively, this decision is not as hostile or disturbing as some individuals and groups portray it. In fact, the data collection drive by the Jammu and Kashmir Police is a positive step to prevent unscrupulous elements from weaponising religion and disrupting social unity and communal harmony.
Religious radicalism has undeniably fuelled a terror ecosystem in this region, causing immense suffering and socio-economic uncertainty. The official stance is that this initiative is not an administrative overreach but a framework for religious oversight under the “Profiling of Masjid Protocol". This protocol involves cataloguing and categorising each mosque, including details such as its name, geographical coordinates, ideological affiliation (e.g., Barelvi, Hanafi, Deobandi, or Ahl-e-Hadees), building type, congregation capacity, and date of........