Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, President of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) and a member of the Dargah Hazrat family, is organising a mass Islamic conversion event that includes the collective marriage of over 20 young men and women. This initiative has drawn significant attention and controversy, considering the Barilly violence of 2010.
The mass conversion and marriage ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Khaleel School.
According to Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, 15 boys and 8 girls from different religions, all adults and previously married, have expressed their desire to embrace Islam. Nadeem Qureshi, the IMC’s organisation in-charge, has formally submitted a request to the city magistrate to gain official approval for the event.
Speaking to the media from his residence in Saudagaran Mohalla, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan disclosed that the individuals have already converted to Islam, and the event will serve to formalise their conversion publicly. Following the conversion ceremony, a collective marriage will be conducted to solidify their commitment to their new faith and each other.
The announcement of this event has met with opposition from Hindu organisations, which are voicing their discontent and raising concerns over the conversions.
Despite this, Maulana Khan emphasised that all participants are exercising their right to choose their religion freely, without any coercion or undue influence.
The identities of the participants remain undisclosed to protect their privacy and safety, as revealed by the Ittehad-e-Millat Council.
Maulana Khan explained that many young individuals have converted in the past but now wish to live openly as Muslims in society. He criticised live-in relationships, stating that the public marriage ceremony aligns with their values and traditions.
So far, the district administration has not provided written permission for the event. The letter submitted to the administration by IMC states that the conversions and marriages are voluntary and free from any inducements or pressure. It also mentions that the individuals involved are prepared to submit affidavits affirming their capability to make independent decisions regarding their faith and personal lives.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya has confirmed that an application regarding the planned mass marriages and conversions has been submitted to the city magistrate by IMC organisational in-charge Nadeem Qureshi. Arya assured residents that the police and local intelligence unit are investigating the matter thoroughly and will provide a detailed report to the district administration.
SSP Arya emphasised that maintaining communal harmony in Bareilly is a top priority, and no one will be allowed to disturb the peace.
Shishir Chaturvedi, the national spokesman of the Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha, raised concerns on Tuesday (July 16), accusing Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan of attempting to incite violence similar to the 2010 Bareilly riots.
He called on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to order a detailed inquiry and to arrest the cleric.
The 2010 riots in Bareilly erupted on March 2, during the Juloos-e-Mohammadi procession, following clashes between two groups. Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan delivered an inflammatory speech, leading to a mob torching a police post and setting houses on fire.
A curfew was imposed in the city for approximately four weeks, and Raza was named as an accused in the FIR for inciting violence.
Despite the police later giving Raza a clean chit, the Fast Track Court-I issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him earlier this year. The court noted that Raza, allegedly the mastermind behind the riots, was not included in the chargesheet despite sufficient evidence.
As the investigation into the planned mass conversions and marriages continues, authorities are taking measures to ensure that the event does not lead to further communal unrest.
