As support grew for Pragaash, the all-girls’ rock band of Kashmir, the grandmufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Bashiruddin Ahmad, on Sunday issued a decree, terming singing “un-Islamic” and asking the band to abandon it.
“I have said that singing is not in accordance with Islamic teachings,” he told PTI.
The cleric said he told the band members that singing would not help them in playing any constructive role in society. “Society cannot be built or developed by doing un-Islamic acts like singing. I have advised these girls, and other Muslims as well, to stay within the limits of modesty as prescribed for them.”
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The band, which came to limelight in December after it performed at the annual Battle of the Bands competition here, has received hate messages on their Facebook page for defying convention, stepping into a male-dominated field. However, support for the group has been pouring in. Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah backed the band on Saturday, saying the police would probe the threats.