Uttar Pradesh: Shia cleric says ‘Muharram order illegal’, adds he will hold majlis in Lucknow

Bengaluru: Just days before Muharram, Uttar Pradesh Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi has given a call to defy the Lucknow Police Commissionerate’s order on blanket ban on all Muharram rituals, reports Times Now.

The website adds that he took strong exception to the ban on Muharram rituals and termed the guidelines as 'unconstitutional and illegal'.

Jawad Naqvi is the 'mutawalli' (caretaker) of Imambara Ghufranmaab. 

The maulana is reported to have said that he will be holding majlis (sermons) at the Imambara following Covid-19 protocols and if the authorities want they can arrest him. 

A letter submitted to the police commissioner, in this regard, reads: "It is against the guidelines issued by the WHO, Central and state governments on Covid-19. This new guideline should be repealed immediately since Covid-19 protocols are already in place. At the 'majlis' from Friday, the number of people will be limited to 50 along with thermal scanning, sanitisations, social distancing and masks."

The Shina cleric said that governments of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kashmir have allowed majlis inside Imambaras following the coronavirus guidelines issued by the Centre.

It is further reported that several clerics, including Jawad and All India Shia Personal Law Board general secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas have alleged that the police are threatening taziya makers.

"A number of taziya makers have complained to me that they a are not being allowed to sell taziyas, which is absolutely against people’s rights and the law," Jawad said in his letter to the police.

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, Uttar Pradesh government and several other state governments have asked Muslims to mourn inside their homes. Permission to take out Tazia (a replica of the tomb of Imam Hussain) has also not been granted.
 

• Uttar Pradesh
• Muharram