A fatwa has allegedly been issued against All India Imam Organisation Chief Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi after he attended the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Sri Ram Lalla at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. The Imam said the fatwa was issued on January 28 but that he had been receiving threat calls since the Ram Mandir event.
“As a chief Imam, I received the invitation from Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra. I contemplated for two days and then decided to go to Ayodhya for harmony and for the country. The fatwa was issued yesterday but I had been receiving threat calls since the evening of January 22,” Ilyasi told media on January 29.
The Islamic cleric also claimed that he has been facing protests and receiving threatening calls since he visited the Pran Pratishtha. “I have recorded a few calls wherein the callers gave me life threats…Those who love me, love the nation will support me. Those who hate me for attending the ceremony should perhaps go to Pakistan. I have given a message of love; I did not do any crime,” he added. He further said that he would neither apologize nor resign and said, “They can do whatever they want.”
#WATCH | Delhi | Fatwa issued against Chief Imam of All India Imam Organization, Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi after he attended the Pranpratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
He says, "As a chief Imam, I received the invitation from Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth… pic.twitter.com/iVe2bA3s1X
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2024
Earlier on January 22, Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi attended the Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya and said that his job is to spread the message of love and harmony. “This is the face of new India. Our biggest religion is humanity. For us, the nation is first,” he said.
#WATCH | "This is the face of new India. Our biggest religion is humanity. For us, the nation is first," says Dr. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam, All India Imam Organization at Ayodhya Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. pic.twitter.com/IRYRW5YgAu
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
The Ram Lalla murti was unveiled at the Pran Pratishtha after the hour-long rituals in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led the ceremony. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present inside the sanctorum during the rituals.
(with inputs from ANI)
