As common citizens have been registering their opposition to namaz in open spaces Islamists like RJ Sayema and Saba Naqvi have been going about with their propaganda accusing Haryana CM of ‘denying’ a community its ‘fundamental rights’, Central Waqf Council member Rais Pathan has put out tweets busting the Islamist propaganda.

Pathan says perform namaz in mosques

In reply to the Islamist RJ’s allegations against the Haryana CM, Pathan stated that there are more than 4000 mosques in the state for the people to pray. He stated that these were enough for the people to pray in gatherings while adding that Allah doesn’t accept prayers that disturb others.

Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, General Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), condemned Haryana CM Khattar for ‘stopping’ Muslims from offering Friday prayers. He also put out a tweet with a letter by AIMPLB dated 12 December condemning the Haryana government’s ‘illegal’ act.

Replying to Rahmani, Pathan highlighted that the Haryana government had only prohibited Muslims from offering namaz on the streets and from offering prayers itself. He further pointed out that offering prayers on the street were against the Shariat as per Hadis. “Your act is illegal” Pathan tweeted to Rahmani.

In one of his tweets with a picture of an empty mosque, Pathan questioned why roads were being blocked while mosques were lying empty. He also appealed to Muslims to offer prayers in mosques and not fall for the propaganda by fake liberal Muslims. He opined that these fake liberal Muslims want you to break laws by performing prayers in the open while they themselves never offer namaz.

‘Namaz in the open’ issue

Haryana CM ML Khattar addressed the media on Friday regarding the current impasse on offering namaz in public spaces in different sectors of Gurugram. The CM said that public places being used for the namaz wouldn’t be tolerated.

OpIndia quoted the Haryana CM and wrote:

He stated that members of all faiths should offer prayers in their own personal space or areas designated for worship. Namaz should be read in Mosques or Idgahs rather than public spaces. The trespassing on public spaces in the city under the guise of conducting religious prayer would not be allowed by the state administration henceforth…

…“An amicable solution to the matter should and would be found,” he said. Offering public prayers is leading to clashes, he said and that should not happen. “We’d found a solution but that was found ineffective. There will be new talks to find a solution,” said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, announcing that his government has withdrawn the previous circular that mentioned some designated sites to offer Friday prayers.

As expected Islamists like Sayema, Naqvi, and others were quick to twist Khattar’s words and peddle their agenda of painting a picture of ‘oppressed Muslims’ in Hindu-majority Bharat.