Police Crack Down on Muslim Leaders Over Waqf Protests

New Delhi: Indian authorities have begun issuing preventive notices to mosque imams and Muslim committee members, compelling them to sign bonds promising not to participate in protests against the recently passed Waqf Bill.

Imams in Noida were approached by police and asked to sign bonds worth Rs 50,000, pledging to abstain from protest-related activities. Maulana Shamsuddin, an imam from Noida, called the move “harassment,” questioning whether peaceful protest had become illegal. “Are we not even allowed to speak up when our rights are under threat?” he asked.

Defending the action, Noida’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Harish Chander, said: “As a precautionary measure, we’ve issued notices to religious leaders to ensure peace and law and order. These bonds are preventive steps, not punitive.”

However, the move has drawn criticism from Muslim activists and legal experts. “Why only target mosques? Why only Muslims?” asked Faizan Khan, a Lucknow-based advocate. “The Constitution guarantees the right to protest. But when Muslims protest, it’s treated as a threat.”

The controversial Waqf Bill has sparked concerns among Muslim communities, who view it as an attempt to interfere with their religious and communal assets.