Mumbai: On Juma-tul-Vida, the last Friday of the month of Ramzan, Muslims wore black armbands after namaz to protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the crisis in Palestine. All India Muslim Personal Law Board had appealed to Muslims to wear black bands to the mosque on Friday.
The Raza Academy organised a protest at Handiwali Masjid in Mumbai. Aseer Mufti e Aazam Alhaaj Muhammad Saeed Noori and Maulana Ejaaz Kashmiri Sahab offered prayers for the oppressed Palestinians. A signature campaign was conducted to protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Mumbai Muslims Protest on Juma-tul-Vida, Wear Black Armbands Against Waqf Bill & Palestine Crisis
Meanwhile, the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) condemned police action in Maharashtra to stop demonstrations in support of Palestinians against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
Internationally, the last Friday of Ramadan is observed as Al Quds Day - Al Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem -in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their resistance.
"This day holds even more significance given the ongoing atrocities against the Palestinian people in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces," said Mohammad Owais Siddiqui from SIO, South Maharashtra.
SIO said the Maharashtra police obstructed a series of peaceful programmes across several places in the state, detaining activists and stopping them from conducting demonstrations. In a statement, SIO said the government should protect people's fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. This inconsiderate attitude of the police towards such an acute humanitarian crisis also highlights the lack of empathy in our police and administration, the statement added.
