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 COUNCIL of INDIAN MUSLIMS (UK)
'Put your House in Order' CIM tells Sunni Waqf Board
London, 19 April, 2005:
The UK based advocacy group, Council of Indian Muslims - UK (CIM) has advised the Sunni Waqf Board that before embarking on a big project like regaining the trusteeship of Taj Mahal, it should pay attention to smaller but far more important issues facing the community.
In a letter sent to the Chairman of the Board, Mr Hafiz Mohammad Usman, CIM's Chairman Munaf Zeena has congratulated him for his efforts to get the trusteeship of the Taj to the Sunni Waqf Board and called it "an exemplary move." However, he said, "I must also stress the fact that before embarking on such a big mission, Sunni Waqf Board should have tried to put its own house in order and look at the misappropriation and mismanagement of mosques already in its jurisdiction, it is supposed to look after in UP."
Mentioning a report on the bizarre misappropriation of funds and property in Masjid-e-Qila of Deoband, carried by English fortnightly Milli Gazette, in February Mr Zeena said that, " …this robbery in the house of Allah and the inaction of UP Sunni Waqf Board has surpassed the gravity of the usual encroachments of waqf properties."
Masjid-e-Qila was built by the Pathan king Sikandar Lodhi in 18th century. Few years ago a local bully managed to be appointed as its motawalli
(manager) and has been misusing mosque funds and has illegally leased mosque's properties. Three years ago after its own investigations, Waqf Board, sacked the Mutawalli who went to the High Court and got himself reinstated after which the Board did not do anything.
Expressing his shock and anger Zeena's letter reads, "One wonders if there is at all anyone responsible to see that Wafq properties, especially mosques, are properly and honestly managed. Does the Waqf Board think that just by issuing a formal notice dismissing a cheater from Mutawalliship, it has done all its duties? After the Mutawalli of the mosque in question went to the High Court and got himself reinstated, was it not the responsibility of the Waqf Board to pursue the matter and free the house of Allah from a person whose irregularities have been confirmed by the officials of the Board? Or have we reached to the stage where anything and everything has lost its sanctity?"
Referring to Board's role in Babri Mosque dispute Zeena asked, "In view of Waqf Board being a party in a similar case - the Babri Masjid suit - one wonders what will be its role if it wins the title suit?"
COUNCIL of INDIAN MUSLIMS (UK)
66c Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 6AA UK Tel: 020 8806 1147 Fax: 020 8806 6859,
www.coim.org.uk , Email: info@coim.org.uk
For further information please contact Munaf Zeena on 07956335384 q
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