“Muslims should establish separate school for girls to avoid conversion”: Maulana Syed Arshad Madani in Deoband

On November 13, Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, the President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, called upon the Muslim community to create distinct educational institutions for Muslim girls in India. Expressing concern that Muslim girls are intentionally being targeted, Maulana Madani emphasised the importance of establishing separate schools for them. These remarks were delivered during a one-day conference organised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind in Deoband.

As per a report by Amar Ujala, approximately 500 officials from Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind representing 17 districts of Western Uttar Pradesh attended a one-day conference at Madani Memorial Public School on Kasimpura Marg on November 13. During the conference, Maulana Syed Arshad Madani made contentious statements on various topics, encompassing the Israel-Palestine conflict and the escalating issue of communalism.

Madani said during the conference that ‘communalism’ in India has increased due to the Israel-Hamas war. “The Palestinian people are fighting for their freedom, while Israel wants to enslave them. Freedom of any country is not achieved just like that but by making sacrifices,” he said.

Maulana Madani asserts that innocent lives are being lost due to what he deems as Israel’s ‘barbaric’ actions. He emphasises the tragic shedding of innocent children’s blood. Despite the harsh reality, Maulana Madani insists on acknowledging the truth that Palestine will ultimately achieve freedom. He cautions against those who propagate communal slogans, stating that such actions do more harm than good, contributing to the nation’s destruction instead of its prosperity. As a solution, he advocates collective efforts to divert the country from this destructive path.

Maulana Madani went on to express his concern about the state of affairs in India, suggesting that the situation is so dire that even a minor vehicular collision can escalate to murder. Additionally, he highlighted the issue of Muslim girls being subjected to conversion. He questioned the targeting of Muslim girls, citing the Hindu practice where inter-caste marriages are not allowed. As a solution, Maulana Madani advocated for Muslims to establish separate schools and colleges specifically for their daughters.

Officials from 17 districts, including Ghaziabad, Shamli, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Hapur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Meerut, and Baghpat, among others, took part in the one-day conference organised by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind.

Maulana Ashad Rashidi, the provincial president, presided over the conference, and Mufti Ashfaq Qasmi conducted the proceedings. Other participants included Maulana Habibullah Madani, Maulana Azhar Madani, Maulana Mufti Khadimul Islam, Hafiz Abdul Quddus Hadi, Asif Qureshi, and several others.