Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chief to shut Sunni madrasas

Months after he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking closure of all madrasas across the country, Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi has triggered another controversy by ordering the closure of all Sunni sect madrasas that are run on Shia Waqf Board properties in the state.

As per the order, Rizvi stated that tenancy of all such madrassas will be scrapped. "Sunni madrassas being run between 7 am and 3 pm on Shia Waqf Board should be shut down," Rizvi said on Saturday.

Earlier in January, Rizvi had written to the Prime Minister and requested him to shut down all the madrasas, clarifying that if madrasas in the country are not shut down with immediate effect, then within the next 15 years, half of the country's Muslims will get influenced by Islamic State ideologies.

After ordering the scrapping of the madrasas on Saturday, Rizvi also directed inspectors to ensure implementation of the order with immediate effect.

In the order, Rizvi also stated that those inspectors who do not adhere the directive would face termination under the relevant rules of Shia Waqf Board. The order is expected to trigger outrage from the Sunni Waqf Board and clerics who will seek a review of the directive.

Sect War

• As per the order, Rizvi stated that tenancy of all Sunni madrassas between 7 am-3 pm will be scrapped
• Earlier in January, Rizvi had written to the PM and asked to shut down all the madrasas

Zee Media Newsroom