AFTER THE announcement of fatwas against terrorists by Muslim clerics, including Mufti Banaras, Varanasi has taken the lead in slamming the doors on ‘free-for all’ entrance in madarsas and has decided to keep a strict watch on the students’ academic activities.
The Muslim literary figures attribute this ‘initiative’—(self surveillance of madarsas) to the countrywide fatwas against terror after Varanasi Muslims’ demand.
The decision to this effect was taken on Thursday evening at a high level meeting of Muslim clerics and heads of different madarsas under the chairmanship of secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Badre Alam.
The meeting, while condemning the March 7 blasts in the strongest possible words, decided to streamline the madarsa admission procedure in the interest of the country.
The meeting decided to check the antecedents of the applicants, their family background and many other things-besides a check on the students who reside in madarsa hostels.
In the meeting, Atiq Ansari was made convenor of ‘co-ordination committee’—which was constituted in this regard..
“Since doubts are raised on the functioning of madarsas and a hue and cry is raised once terror acts take place, we have taken the lead and decided to impose stringent rules on the admission process for new entrants in over a dozen madarsas’ functioning in Varanasi alone,” Atiq Ansari told Hindustan Times.
{{/usCountry}}“Since doubts are raised on the functioning of madarsas and a hue and cry is raised once terror acts take place, we have taken the lead and decided to impose stringent rules on the admission process for new entrants in over a dozen madarsas’ functioning in Varanasi alone,” Atiq Ansari told Hindustan Times.
{{/usCountry}}It may be mentioned that a student was picked up by the police a few months back from one such educational institute for his alleged ISI links. Ansari said this student’s role in anti-national activities was still under investigation by the investigating agencies.
He said emphasis would be laid on about a dozen madarsas with hostel facility, though there were 120 other primary level madarsas in Varanasi. Mufti-e-Banaras Maulana Abdul Batin Nomani, Mufti Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani and Maulana Abdul Matin of Jamia Islamia, Haji Mohd Sawaleh of Jamia Faruquia, Shamsul Haq Ashrafi of Madarsa Mohammadia Ahliyeh Sunnat, Haji Manzoor Ahmed of Madarsa Matlua Aloom and Maulana Abdulla Saud Sulfi of Jamia Salfia participated in the meeting. Besides, Sayeed Yasin, secretary Anjuman Intezamia Masajid, Haji Mohd Ishaq Ansari, Abdul Qadir Ashrafi, Maulana Abdul Majeed Qasmi, etc also participated in the deliberations.
“The fatwa has generated courage in the Muslim community and Hindus have also responded positively — so Muslim religious heads and madarsa managements’ meeting to streamline the admission process is a land mark decision,” Muneeza Rafeeqa Khan, Registrar, Gandhian Institute of Studies told HT on phone.