#ReligiousFreedom Archives

Mosque Profiling Drive in Kashmir Triggers Political and Religious Outcry

January 14, 2026 Editor

Mosque Profiling Drive in Kashmir Sparks Political, Religious Backlash Why a Police Data Exercise Has Reignited Fears of Surveillance, Stigmatization, and Erosion of Religious Freedom in the Valley By: Javid Amin | 13 January 2026 A Data Exercise That Set Off Alarm Bells What began as a police “data-gathering exercise” has rapidly escalated into one of the most sensitive governance controversies in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months. The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s mosque profiling drive, carried out across multiple villages in the Valley, has triggered sharp political criticism and…

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Barred From Friday Prayers for Third Consecutive Week at Srinagar Jama Masjid

January 10, 2026 Editor

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Says He Was Barred From Friday Prayers for Third Week at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid By: Javid Amin | 09 January 2026 Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir’s chief cleric, on Friday said he was prevented for the third consecutive week from leading Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid, alleging that he was placed under house detention by authorities. According to the Mirwaiz, police vehicles and personnel were stationed outside his residence, restricting his movement and preventing him from reaching the mosque. What the Mirwaiz Has Claimed In a…

‘Faith Above Politics’: J&K BJP Leader Dr. Jahanzaib Sirwal’s Stand Over ‘I Love Muhammad’ Row Exposes Cracks Within Saffron Ranks

October 4, 2025 Editor

‘I Love Muhammad’ Row: JK BJP Leader Threatens Resignation Over UP CM’s Remarks — And Reactions Pour In By: Javid Amin | 03 October 2025 When Faith Meets Fear Srinagar, October 3, 2025 — In a political landscape often defined by loyalty and conformity, Dr. Jahanzaib Sirwal, a young and outspoken leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Jammu & Kashmir, has broken ranks. His bold statement condemning Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent comments and the police crackdown on Muslims displaying “I Love Muhammad” banners during Eid-e-Milad…

Kashmiri Muslim Doctor Quits DNB Seat Over Beard Policy at Coimbatore Hospital

June 27, 2025 Editor

Kashmiri Muslim Doctor Quits DNB Seat in Coimbatore Over Beard Row In a case that has stirred debate over religious freedom, professional policies, and inclusivity in the medical field, a Kashmiri Muslim doctor has withdrawn from a prestigious DNB (Diplomate of National Board) Nephrology seat at Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, following a dispute over his beard. The Incident: When Faith Meets Policy Dr. Zubair Ahmad, a medical graduate from Jammu and Kashmir, was recently selected for a super-specialty course at KMCH. However, upon…

Religious Freedom Under Siege: Mirwaiz Prevented from Leading Friday Prayers

March 15, 2025 Editor

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Prevented from Leading Friday Prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid Srinagar, March 14: In a move that has sparked widespread discontent, Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was once again barred from leading the congregational Friday prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid. Authorities placed the Mirwaiz under house detention, preventing him from delivering his sermon at the mosque in Nowhatta, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from religious and political circles. House Detention Amid Ramzan The Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the governing body of the grand mosque,…

Omar Abdullah: Sealing Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat Shows Lack of Confidence

February 14, 2025 Editor

Decision to lock Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Baraat ‘very unfortunate’: CM Omar Abdullah Srinagar, Feb 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the decision to lock the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Shab-e-Baraat is ‘very unfortunate’. He said the decision betrays a lack of confidence in the people and in the law & order machinery. Taking to micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) he said: “It is very unfortunate that the security establishment has taken the decision to seal the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar on one of the holiest nights…

Four-Year Delay: Mosque Committee Seeks Supreme Court Action Against Centre’s Inaction

January 22, 2025 Editor

Places of Worship Act case: Mosque panel urges SC to close Centre’s right to counter after 4-yr delay New Delhi: The Shahi Masjid Committee of Mathura has moved the Supreme Court criticising the Union government for not filing its response to petitions challenging the Places of Worship Act despite four opportunities given by the court to do so in the last four years. In an application filed before the top court where a batch of petitions questioning the 1991 Act’s legal validity are pending for a decision, the committee alleged…

National Conference Denounces Petitions Targeting Mosques and Shrines

December 2, 2024 Editor

National Conference condemns petitions seeking surveys of mosques, Muslim shrines; ‘Such actions undermine fabric of our society’ The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Saturday strongly condemned the barrage of petitions filed across the country calling for surveys of mosques and Muslim shrines. In a statement issued here, the party’s provincial president Kashmir, Showkat Mir expressed deep concern over the flood of petitions that have been submitted calling for surveys of mosques and Muslim Shrines. He warns that if these actions are not addressed, they could disrupt the peaceful…

Clashes Erupt in Bihar During Saraswati Idol Immersion, Over 40 Injured

February 17, 2024February 17, 2024 Editor

Officials said that internet services were suspended in Darbhanga district on Saturday for 48 hours following violence and continuing tension between the two communities since Wednesday Patna: More than 40 people have been injured in communal clashes that broke out in several parts of Bihar in the wake of Saraswati idol immersion, police said on Saturday, adding they have arrested 50-odd suspects in Darbhanga alone. In Darbhanga, a clash broke out between two communities in Bahera market on Friday. Police said they have lodged separate first information reports with Bahera,…

Following Mathura Mosque Survey, Hindu Group Seeks Similar Action for Agra’s Shahi Jama Masjid

December 16, 2023 Editor

Hindu group on Friday demanded a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Agra right after the prayers were held, creating a tense situation in the largely Muslim-dominated area. The demand of the groups came after the Allahabad High Court allowed a primary survey of the Shahi Idgah complex adjacent to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura. According to police sources, a large group of people who are part of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha distributed sweets near the Jama Masjid, despite the administration’s advice to avoid…