Assam's century-old mosque extends ban on Tablighi Jamaat

A mosque in Jorhat district of Assam, dating back to 1835, has decided to extend its ban on the Tablighi Jamaat for an indefinite period, following the religious group’s decision to hold a congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin Markaz amid restrictions due to coronavirus outbreak.

Jorhat:At a time whenTablighi Jamaat - a Muslim religious group - is drawing ire from several quarters for holding a congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin Markaz amid restrictions due to coronavirus outbreak, a century-old mosque in Assam has decided to extend its ban on the Jamaat for an indefinite period.

Established in 1835 in Jorhat district of Assam, the management committee of the mosque took this decision as it feels that the members of the Tablighi Jamaat, who attended the event in the national capital “have presented a negative image” of the Muslim society.

The mosque’s decision came at a time when more than 100 positive cases of coronavirus have emerged from the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, with many attendees being accused of “going into hiding” and “spreading the virus”.

“The people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation are not coming forward to get themselves tested despite several appeals made by the Government of Assam...as these people having gone into hiding, their actions have presented a negative image of our society,” Sadiqur Rahman, secretary of the mosque management committee told ETV Bharat.

The committee member further said, “our mosque has decided to ban the Tablighi Jamaat indefinitely. We have observed that their practices do not match ours. We have been hurt by their behaviour, “ and added, “If these people continue to defy the rules and regulations set forth by the government (to curb the spread of coronavirus) and continue to pursue heir religious fundamentalism, then our society at large will be looked down upon.”

There are about 27 positive cases of COVID-19 detected in Assam so far, and out of these around 26 had allegedly taken part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

Although the government has tested over 400 Tablighi Jamaat returnees, it has not been able to test each one of the attendees as some of them have into “gone hiding”.