Federal government proposes law that makes it easier to usurp Muslim properties

Muslim organizations and opposition parties have slammed the federal government’s proposed bill to amend the Waqf Act 1995 as a move “intended to grab… properties from Muslims.”

A waqf is a property given for a religious, educational or charitable cause by Muslim philanthropists. The Waqf Board is led by a legal entity, who is vested with the power to acquire, hold and transfer the property. The federal government has proposed vomiting laws relating to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board said the move would make it easier for the government or any individual to usurp waqf properties. 

Police officials, Hindu militants disrupt Christian prayer meet in Uttar Pradesh

In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Hindu militants from the Bajrang Dal joined police officials in disrupting a Christian prayer meet over baseless allegations that they were forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.

Attacks on Christians have become common under several Indian states’ draconian anti-conversion laws, which criminalize conversion away from Hinduism. D.C.-based human rights group International Christian Concern has named India among the top 10 countries persecuting Christians in its 2023 Persecutors of the Year Report. 

Hindu militant leader delivers hate speech against Rohingya refugees, Bangladeshis 

In Thane, Maharashtra, a Hindu militant leader delivered a dangerous speech, promoting the bogus conspiracy of “love jihad”. He threatened to pick up weapons and advocated for anti-Muslim violence.

In Mumbai, Hindu militant leader Gautam Kanji Rawaria delivered an anti-Muslim hate speech, inciting fear against undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Hindu preacher Raju Das promoted hate and fear against Muslims and Christians. He raked up conspiracy theories of “love jihad” and “religious conversions.”