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Kashmir seminary declared unlawful under anti-terror law, sparks outcry
TL;DR
A major Islamic seminary in Kashmir, Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, has been declared unlawful under anti-terror laws, leading to significant backlash from local leaders. The order was based on alleged links to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami party.
Key points
- Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom declared unlawful under anti-terror laws
- Order issued by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg
- Allegations of links to banned Jamaat-e-Islami party
- Concerns over the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
- Backlash from local religious and political leaders
Mentioned in this story
Jamia Siraj-ul-UloomJamaat-e-IslamiAnshul Garg
An important Islamic seminary in Kashmir has been declared unlawful under anti-terror laws, prompting backlash from prominent religious and political leaders in the Indian-administered territory.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg issued the order based on a police dossier that alleged “sustained and covert links” between the seminary and the banned political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), local media reported.
The seminary, Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, is one of the largest in southern Kashmir and is recognised by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education.
The dossier stated that members of Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom’s management and faculty were linked to JeI. It also cited other allegations related to land use and financial transparency.
The move was handed down under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a much-criticised law that allows authorities to designate someone a “terrorist” without evidence.
Seminary chairman Mohammad Shafi Lone has reportedly rejected the allegations.
“We are a law-abiding institute and have nothing to do with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami,” the Hindustan Times reported him as saying. “This order has created panic among parents and students enrolled here.”
Leaders in Muslim-majority Kashmir criticised the move as part of an ongoing campaign of overreach by New Delhi.
“Declaring Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom ‘unlawful’ under UAPA is the latest act in a calculated dismantling of Kashmir’s civic life,” wrote Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a member of Jammu and Kashmir parliament, on X. “The pattern is unmistakable. Trusts, mosques, libraries and now seminaries serving underprivileged children, every social and nongovernmental institution that holds Kashmiri society together is being strangled.”
The school has more than 800 students and has “produced doctors, scholars and professionals from homes that could never afford private education”, he added.
Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir, called the decision a “flagrant injustice to the poor underprivileged sections of society.”
“Banning these altruistic institutions without any solid evidence of antinational activity shows a deep-seated prejudice,” she said.
Kashmir’s top Muslim cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, listed recent alleged incidents against residents, including the seizure of property and arrests under the Public Safety Act.
Q&A
Why was Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom declared unlawful?
Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom was declared unlawful due to alleged sustained links to the banned political party Jamaat-e-Islami, as outlined in a police dossier.
What are the implications of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in this case?
The UAPA allows authorities to label individuals or organizations as terrorists without needing to provide evidence, which raises concerns about civil liberties and due process.
Who has reacted to the seminary's declaration as unlawful?
Prominent religious and political leaders in Kashmir have expressed strong backlash against the declaration of Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom as unlawful.
What is the significance of Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom in Kashmir?
Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom is one of the largest Islamic seminaries in southern Kashmir and is recognized by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education.
