1,640 foreign Tablighi Jamaat members attended Markaz, only 66 contracted COVID-19: Jamiat

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said that 1,640 foreign members from 47 countries were in India at the time of Nizamuddin Markaz gathering but only 64 tested positive COVID-19 and two more died of the virus.

New Delhi: The prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Friday said that 1,640 foreign Tablighi Jamaat members from 47 countries were in India at the time of Nizamuddin Markaz gathering in the month of March, of whom only 64 tested positive COVID-19 and two more died of the virus.

Jamiat president Maulana Arshad Madani said the Nizamuddin Markaz event organised by the Tablighi Jamaat was blamed for the spread of COVID-19 in the country that allegedly created an atmosphere of hatred against Muslims.

"At a time when the country has witnessed over 78,000 Coronavirus cases, nobody is talking about the Tablighi Jamaat figures." he added.

"Maulana Madani, while releasing the data, compiled by his organisation through various embassies and the Nizamuddin Markaz," said that there were a total of 1640 foreigners in the Tablighi Jamaat, out of which only about 64 reports were positive in the medical examination while only two foreign Tablighi Jamaat members died of the 64 Tablighi Jamaat whose reports were positive.

According to Jamiat statement, of the total foreign Tablighi Jamaat members, 739 were in Delhi and the rest were in other states.

Maulana Madani said, "I am saying with full conviction that if we do not step out of the narrow circle of thought, and rise above religion, we will still not work for peace, unity and solidarity."

He said, "adding that now is the time for every citizen of the country to do his utmost to keep alive the country's thousands of years old history of peace, unity, solidarity and brotherhood."

Notably. the Delhi Police on Wednesday confiscated the documents, including passports, of around 700 foreigners who attended the religious event held by Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin area of Delhi.

As per the government officials, India has received requests from a number of countries seeking consular access to their citizens who were held for attending a congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in the national capital flouting visa rules.

Tablighi Jamaat held a religious gathering in south Delhi's Nizamuddin locality in March in defiance of social distancing protocols.

Delhi Police's Crime Branch had on March 31 lodged an FIR against seven persons, including Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad, on a complaint by Station House Officer of Nizamuddin police station for holding the congregation in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of Coronavirus.