Discrimination or organization? Indian legislation allows the government to put its hand on the endowments of Muslims

Around the clock – In a move that sparked widespread controversy in India, the Indian Parliament approved exciting amendments to an old law related to the management of Islamic endowment property, after lengthy discussions in the House of Representatives and the elders. These amendments come at a sensitive time, and mainly aims to give the federal government extensive powers to manage the endowment property, which are lands and real estate allocated from Muslims for religious, charitable or educational purposes.

Endowment property is an important part of Islamic heritage in India, as it is used to build mosques, schools and community centers, and many Muslims donate these properties, often, orally. In the past, these properties have been subjected to the administration of local endowment councils, which were elected by Muslims themselves.

However, according to the amendments recently approved, the federal government was granted greater powers in managing this property. Among the most controversial amendments is to allow non -Muslims to hold major positions in the endowment councils, a measure that has been severely rejected by large sectors of Indian society, especially by opposition parties and some traditional allies of the government.

The draft law was passed in Parliament after the approval of the House of Representatives on the previous day, as it was re -presented in the Senate, amid severe objections from the opposition political parties. These amendments were widely rejected by Islamic political forces and civil society organizations, which were considered to be government interference in religious and social affairs of Muslims.

The amendments led to resignations within one of the parties allied with the government, which is an indication of the great impact of these changes on political alliances in India. These resignations reflect the size of the division caused by the approval of this law in the Indian political arena.

Among the most prominent points that sparked anxiety, the emphasis on the necessity of submitting the endowment councils formal legal documents to prove their ownership of the property that it runs, otherwise their ownership may be transferred to the government. According to the amendments, during the real estate survey operations, the endowment councils will have to provide legal documents approved by the government authorities to prove the ownership of lands designated for the endowment. If these documents are not submitted, this property will be acquired for the government.

The new law also includes the possibility of recovering the lands that had been allocated earlier for the endowment, but are still owned by the state. The law expands the powers of the federal government in the registration and audit of the endowment property, which may lead to further government interference in managing these property.

These amendments sparked different reactions in Indian society, as many considered that these steps are an attempt to reduce the religious and social role of the Islamic endowment, which is part of the infrastructure of Islamic societies in India. On the other hand, some believe that these amendments are necessary to ensure transparency and control the management of endowment property, which were in the past under the management of local councils that may be vulnerable to administrative problems.

Approving these amendments is an important step in the path of the development of endowment property management in India, but at the same time, it raises many questions about its impact on the rights of Muslims in managing their religious and social affairs. While some see that the amendments are necessary for improving transparency and organization, others consider them unjustified government interference in Islamic affairs, which may lead to tightening control over endowment property and targeting some historical Muslim rights in the country.

India is one of the largest non -Muslim countries in the world, but also includes the largest number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia. According to the last population in India (2021), the number of Muslims in India is estimated at about 200 million, equivalent to approximately 14.2% of the total population of India. This number makes Muslims the largest religious minority in India, as they represent a large percentage of the population in certain states, such as the strings of Pradesh, Beyhar, Kerala and Punjab.

Muslims in India are witnessing increasing social and political discrimination, in light of the increasing of the Hindu right in politics. Organizations such as the ruling “Bharatia Gata” party, which adopts a strong Hindu agenda, may adopt policies that may lead to marginalization of Muslims and deepen the social and economic gap between them and the Hindu majority.

In recent years, incidents of sectarian violence have escalated against Muslims, especially after tensions such as riots in “Delhi” 2020, as it was reported that individuals of Hindu extremist groups were involved in attacks against Muslims.

Muslims in India often suffer from poverty and unemployment, as some studies indicate that the percentage of poverty among Muslims in India is higher than other religious sects, and they face challenges in obtaining good education and health care, which contributes to enhancing social marginalization.

Some studies also indicate that Muslims in India suffer from low levels of representation in the public and private sectors, especially in higher government positions.

There is an increasing concern among Muslims in India from some policies and laws they consider discriminatory. For example: Citizenship amendment Law (CAA) approved by the Indian government in 2019, which allows citizenship to people from the religions of non -Muslims from three neighboring countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan), but with the exception of Muslims. This law was considered by many Muslims and human rights groups as religious discrimination.

In addition, many Muslims adhere to the tradition of Islamic marriage and Sharia in divorce and inheritance cases, but some Indian courts do not recognize some aspects of these traditional laws, which causes legal problems for Muslims.

Muslims in India suffer from a decrease in education rates compared to the Hindu majority, and this is often linked to poverty and social isolation in which many Muslim families live. The employment opportunities in the public sector are also limited due to discrimination on the basis of religion.

Although there are a number of government initiatives to improve education in Muslim areas, the challenges are still in place, especially in rural areas.

Over the years, Muslims in India have been subjected to several waves of sectarian violence by Hindu extremist groups. Many Muslims feel threatened by the escalation of the Hindu right, which seeks to impose an Hindu identity on the country and reduce the freedom of religion to Muslims.

In recent years, the attacks on mosques and the holy places for Muslims have increased, and some areas have witnessed an increase in attacks on Muslims due to tensions on topics such as “slaughter” and “halal meat”.

Although Muslims in India are a large part of the population, they face great challenges related to religious discrimination, poverty, education, and political participation. In light of these challenges, Muslims in India continue attempts to defend their rights and address the policies they consider unfair, while seeking to ensure their equal position in Indian society.