The managing committee of the Melangadi Mohiuddin Masjid in Ullal has decided to continue holding Juma (Friday noon prayers) at the masjid opposite to Ullal Dargah, disregarding the stay order issued by the Karnataka Wakf Board. The committee will be holding a protest against the order before the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Thursday.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, president of the committee Mustafa Abdullah questioned the locus standi of the Board to issue such an order. “Wakf Board has no authority to pass such an order. There is no question of stopping prayers,” he said.
The launch of Juma prayers at the masjid saw a bloody start on October 18, when two rival Sunni groups clashed resulting in injuries to nearly half a dozen people. A few policemen were also injured in the stone throwing. Police had to use force to bring the situation under control. On October 25, Juma prayers were held again, albeit clandestinely, amid police vigil and in defiance of the Board’s interim order.
Khader’s role
Mr. Abdullah said the orders passed by the State Wakf Board were against Shariat (Islamic law). He also questioned the presence of Health Minister U.T. Khader, MLA Mohiuddin Bava and Assistant Commissioner of Police Pavan Nijjur in the Board’s meeting despite them being not members of the Board.
K. Ashraf, the former Mayor and convenor of Sunni Yuvajana Sangha, said nearly 450 families in Ullal bank on the masjid for prayers. There was no rule that Juma prayers should not be held in masjid close to Dargah. “We want the Wakf Board to withdraw this illegal order,” he said.
