A large number of Muslims gathered at Feroz Shah Kotla Jama Mosque in New Delhi on May 18 to stage a protest against desecration of the sacred precincts of the mosque for illegal sexual gratification at the behest of the guard and other officials of this historical mosque now under Archaeological Survey of India. This heinous crime had been revealed by a private TV channel a day before.
With the revelation of this shocking news, Muslims from all around the city started reaching Feroz Shah Kotla in large numbers. They prevented young “couples” from entering the mosque and forced those who had been already there to come out. They demanded an immediate end to this immoral act.
The protesters included Deputy Speaker Delhi Assembly Soaib Iqbal, MLA and Delhi Wakf Board chairman Chaudhary Mateen Ahmad, Delhi State Minorities Commission
Chairman Kamal Farooqui and Councillor Obaid Iqbal.
Mateen Ahmad said the problem is not confined to Feroz Shah Kotla mosque only; it is present in all 53 historical mosques managed by ASI. He informed the gathering that such a heinous act is “unbearable” and that he has already approached ASI director to allow the Muslims to offer prayers there and take up the management of these mosques in their hands.
Shoaib Iqbal also called upon the government to hand over all the mosques under ASI to Muslims so that these mosques may regain their lost functional status.
“The law of the land respects all places of worship and no provision of law restricts the Muslims from offering prayers in a mosque. But Muslims are not allowed to offer prayers in the mosques managed by ASI. If they want to enter such a mosque, they have to purchase tickets,” he said adding that he will launch a campaign to liberate these mosques from ASI. “We are ready to pay any price for this noble cause,” he added.
Kamal Farooqui promised that Delhi Minorities Commission will ask Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and National Minorities Commission to exercise their respective authorities to get the problem solved.