NEW DELHI – In a case that has deeply hurt and angered many Muslims, an Islamic cleric in Sherkot town of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, has been booked for collecting donations for war-hit Palestinians in Gaza. The police have registered a case against Maulana Zaki, the Imam of Sherkot’s Jama Masjid, along with two of his associates. The action has sparked outrage among Muslim residents, who see it as part of a growing pattern of criminalising Muslim charity and humanitarian efforts in the country.
According to the police, a complaint was filed by a local, Irshad, son of Abdul Rashid, from Mohalla Shekhan of the city. In his written complaint, Irshad alleged that Maulana Zaki and his team were forcefully collecting money from people in the name of Gaza and threatening those who refused by warning that a fatwa would be issued against them. Based on this, a case was filed under serious charges.
The cleric has denied all allegations and, citing health reasons, has not issued a detailed statement yet. The Muslim community in Sherkot and surrounding areas has come out strongly in his support, calling the police action politically motivated and an attack on religious freedom.
Speaking to Clarion India, Abdul Hameed, a retired schoolteacher from Sherkot, said: “We are heartbroken. All Maulana Zaki was doing was collecting money for the suffering people of Gaza. It was a noble act. Now, even helping the oppressed has become a crime if a Muslim does it.”
The development has caused a clear divide in the town, but many Muslim residents view the case as part of a wider pattern of harassment. Several residents interviewed said the charges were “fake” and “deliberate.”
Mohd Sadiq, a shopkeeper in the town’s main market, asked angrily: “When Hindus collect donations for temples or other causes, nobody stops them. Why are only Muslims questioned when we help our brothers and sisters in Gaza?”
CO Afzalgarh Rajesh Solanki confirmed that a report has been filed against three people, including the cleric. He said: “We are also checking whether the amount collected was sent to Gaza and whether any rules were broken regarding foreign funding or financial laws.”
However, police have not provided any proof yet to support the allegations of threats or forceful collection. The people close to the mosque committee maintain that there was no wrongdoing.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.