In a controversial move, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have initiated a comprehensive data collection exercise targeting mosques and religious functionaries throughout the Valley. This effort, which seeks personal, financial, and ideological information, has sparked widespread concern among clerics, political leaders, and civil society organizations.
Individuals affiliated with mosques have received a four-page form distributed across various areas of Kashmir. One page pertains specifically to the details of the mosques, while the remaining three pages focus on the individuals involved in their management and religious activities.
In discussions with Maktoob, Mirwaiz Hassan Firdousi, Chairman of the Mutahida Aima Forum and Muslim Mutahida Mahaaz, expressed serious concerns. “This exercise is in complete violation of fundamental rights and the right to privacy, as guaranteed under the Constitution. Mosques are sacred institutions for worship, guidance, and community service; their internal affairs should not be subjected to unwarranted surveillance,” he stated.
The mosque-related section of the form requests information on several aspects, including sect affiliation, seating capacity, physical structure, construction costs, monthly expenditures, funding sources, land ownership, and management committees. Additionally, personal details of imams, muezzins, khateebs, and mosque management members are solicited, along with identification numbers such as Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, and bank account details.
Moreover, the form requests details regarding mobile phone models, IMEI numbers, social media accounts, travel history, income and expenditure, property ownership, and information about relatives living abroad. It also requires family details, including those of parents and siblings, as well as any past involvement in militancy or criminal activities. Notably, the form asks mosques to declare their ideological affiliations.
Hakim Suhail, a social activist, pointed out that existing laws already govern how mosques operate, similar to other places of worship. He emphasized that if data collection is deemed necessary, it should be uniformly applied across all religious institutions. “Targeting mosques raises questions about fairness and intent,” he noted.
Additional criticism of this exercise has emerged from various religious bodies, which have expressed concerns that the gathering of ideological classifications alongside personal and financial information exacerbates apprehensions among clerical authorities.
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a coalition of Islamic organizations in Jammu and Kashmir led by chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, described the profiling as “intrusive.” The MMU argued that it constitutes an unprecedented collection of sensitive personal data, affecting not just mosque management but also their family members.
The MMU has urged the government to intervene and halt the exercise immediately, asserting that mosques should not be subjected to arbitrary surveillance. “Mosques serve sacred functions, and their internal affairs cannot be the target of intrusive oversight,” they stated.
Moreover, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Member of Parliament for Srinagar from the National Conference, criticized the initiative as a violation of constitutional guarantees. “This is not a routine administrative exercise; it infringes on freedom of religion and privacy,” he stated.
Concerns have also been raised by Imran Reza Ansari, a senior leader of the Peoples Conference and Shia cleric, who cautioned that such heightened scrutiny might deter voluntary religious service among individuals who engage in these roles out of devotion.
Mirwaiz Hassan Firdousi reiterated the urgency for governmental intervention, stressing that this exercise harms trust within the community and sends a troubling message to the Muslim population in the state. He called for an immediate cessation of the data collection efforts, labeling them as unjustified and detrimental to social harmony.
As of now, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have not issued any official comment regarding this data collection initiative.
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