The Indian Parliament's recent approval of a contentious bill has sparked significant debate over its implications for the rights of the Muslim community in the country.
India Enacts Controversial Law Regulating Muslim Trust Properties
India Enacts Controversial Law Regulating Muslim Trust Properties
New legislation enhances governmental control over Muslim land trusts, enabling non-Muslim oversight amid rising concerns of religious discrimination.
In a significant move, the Indian Parliament has enacted a bill that increases the government's control over properties owned by Muslim trusts, known as Waqfs. Passed on Friday amidst widespread protests, the law allows for the appointment of non-Muslims to manage these trusts and grants state officials the authority to resolve disputes involving Waqf properties.
Waqfs have a legal presence in India spanning over a century and are among the largest landholders in the nation, overseeing around 800,000 properties that amount to nearly a million acres. A government-commissioned report from 2006 valued these assets at over $14 billion dollars, encompassing mosques, educational institutions, cemeteries, and privately donated lands.
The ruling party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, argues that the reforms are necessary to enhance transparency, efficiency, and to safeguard Waqf properties from misappropriation. Kiren Rijiju, the minister for parliamentary and minority affairs, assured critics that the changes are not intended to undermine Muslim rights but are meant to uphold the integrity of Waqf assets. "This is about transparency, not interference,” he stated.
In contrast to past legislative practices during Modi's administration, where bills were often rushed through with a commanding majority, the Waqf legislation experienced extensive discussions over several months. Its passage followed two days of vigorous and respectful debate within Parliament, extending into the early hours before the final vote.
