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JK Waqf Board Sermon Controversy Sparks Religious Freedom Debate
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News18•13-10-2026, 19:38
JK Waqf Board Sermon Controversy Sparks Religious Freedom Debate
- •A major controversy erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the Waqf Board proposal to introduce common themes for Friday sermons across affiliated mosques and shrines.
- •The Board suggested forming a core committee of religious scholars to finalize weekly topics aimed at promoting social harmony and unity.
- •Political leaders and religious organizations strongly opposed the move, questioning state involvement in religious affairs.
- •PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized the proposal, claiming it turns the region into a laboratory for the BJP.
- •Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema also voiced concerns over government interference in religious preaching.
Key Questions Answered
The Waqf Board proposed introducing common themes for Friday sermons, or khutbas, across affiliated mosques and shrines by forming a core committee of Muftis, Imams, and Khateebs to finalise weekly topics.
The Board stated that the initiative was intended to promote religious awareness, moral values, social harmony, and unity.
Political leaders and religious organizations, including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, opposed the move. They argued against state-linked interference in religious affairs, with Mufti stating that religious institutions should not regulate Muslim expression.
