ONE of the top Muslim clergymen in Jammu & Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has launched an orthodox Islamic website to prevent what he claimed as religious apostasy and ‘conversions‘ among Kashmiri Muslims.
The separatist leader’s new website states that a committee was formed in November 2011 “after numerous cases of apostasy came into light” and “to thwart nefarious designs of pervasive forces and the deep rooted conspiracy of making youth apostate and defectors by giving them concessions and benefits secretly.”
The Council for Protection of Faith has been set by Majlis Tahaffuz-e-Imaan (committee for protection of faith).
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz said that the site was launched because there was a need to use technology and modern equipment for countering conversion attempts. The Times of India in its report said Mirwaiz expressed serious concern over the activities of Christian missionaries in the valley and stressed the need for Baitul Maal (fund raising ) committees to help and support needy people.
The site, he said was aimed to protect and imbibe Islamic values besides checking the conversion of young boys and girls. As such, the site warns Kashmiri Muslims not to attend new year functions. “It is un-Islamic to celebrate New Year and the Muslims should in very way refrain from attending the functions related to this event,” the site preaches.
The TOI report said The Mirwaiz also alleged that the state government was secretly issuing licenses for sale of liquor in Kashmir. He said vested interests in the government were hatching conspiracies to allure Kashmiri youth to social evils like liquor. The clergyman also stressed the need to strength the religious institutions and Islamic banking. He urged Reserve Bank of India to allow Islamic banking in Jammu and Kashmir owing to its Mulsim majority character.
