A contentious bill passed by India's Parliament introduces heightened authority over Muslim land trusts, generating significant unrest among the community.
Indian Parliament Enacts Bill to Supervise Muslim Trusts, Sparking Controversy
Indian Parliament Enacts Bill to Supervise Muslim Trusts, Sparking Controversy
New legislation increases administrative oversight of Waqfs, raising concerns over Muslim rights.
On Friday, the Indian Parliament enacted a divisive new bill that amplifies governmental control over properties managed by Muslim trusts, known as Waqfs. The legislation enables the appointment of non-Muslims to administration panels of these trusts, a move that has raised alarm among Muslim groups who argue it infringes upon their rights and autonomy.
Waqfs, which date back over a century in India, represent one of the country’s largest landholding entities, overseeing more than 800,000 properties amounting to nearly a million acres, per government estimates. A report from 2006 valued these properties, which encompass mosques, religious schools, and burial grounds—often established through public donations—at an impressive $14 billion.
The ruling party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has framed the changes to the Waqf oversight as essential to enhancing their effectiveness and ensuring protection against potential mismanagement. According to Kiren Rijiju, the minister for parliamentary and minority affairs, the adjustments aim to safeguard Waqf assets rather than target Muslim communities. “This is about transparency, not interference,” he stated.
Notably, the bill's path to passing was markedly different from the past, receiving more rigorous scrutiny with extended debates occurring across multiple sessions before the final vote. Despite opposition claims of targeted reforms against Muslims, the government maintains its position that the measures will modernize trust operations while preserving their integrity.
