05/04/2025
India's Waqf (Amendment) Bill: A Scheme to Rob Indian Muslims of Their Rights and Property Under the Guise of Secularism
Written by: Nure Abrar Razin - Political
(Check the first comment to read in Bangla.)
India’s minority Muslim community is currently facing a serious crisis. The new Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, recently passed in the Indian Parliament (which was passed in 2025), is being seen as a direct blow to the religious, social, and financial rights of Muslims. This bill has caused deep concern and panic among the Muslim society across India.
Waqf is basically an Islamic religious system through which Muslims donate their movable or immovable property for use in religious, educational, or charitable work.
In India, earlier under The Wakf Act, 1995, Muslims’ Waqf properties were managed by their own system (Waqf Boards made up of Muslim members). These boards were self-governing and formed by representatives of the Muslim community. This gave Muslims the freedom to manage their religious institutions, graveyards, mosques, madrasas, and projects to help the poor.
But the new amendment bill has given India’s Hindu nationalist Modi government extra power to directly meddle in Waqf properties. It says the government can take over any Waqf property if needed. Even without the Waqf Board’s permission, the government can change the use or ownership of the property and has reduced Muslim representation in Waqf Boards while increasing administrative interference. On top of that, non-Muslims have been allowed to be members of Waqf Boards (which is completely illogical. Just as a Hindu would know best how to manage a temple—giving Muslims the responsibility to manage it would be illogical—similarly, managing mosques and other Muslim religious institutions and overseeing graveyards is not something people of other religions can do besides Muslims).
Because of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Indian Muslims will face these problems:
1. The Modi government’s interference in holy places like mosques, madrasas, or graveyards will hurt the religious feelings of Indian Muslims.
2. Many Muslim families who have donated property to Waqf are now under the Modi government’s watch. As a result, their social and religious activities will be disrupted.
3. Many madrasas, hospitals, orphanages, and more that run on Waqf funds will suffer.
How this bill goes against democracy:
India’s Constitution ensures the right of every religious group to manage its own religious institutions. The new Waqf Bill directly violates that right. It has been made one-sidedly targeting the Indian Muslim community, which is a very dangerous message for a secular country. The Modi government’s behavior is creating religious division and wants to turn Muslims into second-class citizens.
India’s various opposition parties have strongly criticized this bill. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “This is part of the BJP’s anti-Muslim agenda. This bill will create religious inequality and weaken India’s democracy and Constitution.” Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee said, “In the name of amending the Waqf law, the BJP government is interfering in Muslims’ religious rights, which we cannot accept.” Besides, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has been opposing this law with a strong voice from the start. He said, “Waqf is about Muslims’ worship, and through this wrong law, the BJP wants to sn**ch away Muslims’ mosques, shrines, graves, and khanqahs.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill goes against the Indian Constitution and religious freedom. Through it, the constitutional rights of Indian Muslims are being taken away. This is a form of ethnic discrimination and a show of racist policy. The Modi government has misused administrative power to occupy Muslim properties.
Those of us around the world who believe in justice, human rights, and religious freedom must collectively raise a protest against this dangerous bill. I call on aware citizens, political parties, human rights organizations, and religious leaders from different countries to pressure the Indian government to cancel this bill. Let everyone step forward to protect the religious freedom and constitutional rights of Indian Muslims.
“Cancel the Waqf Bill, Protect Religious Rights!”
– Nure Abrar Razin
Youth Activist and Organizer,
Bangladesh.
Bengali to English Translated by-
Adnan Tahasin
Organizer, Chattagram District
National Citizens Party(NCP)
Bangladesh
