The authorities of the J&K Waqf board have taken action by suspending the head cleric at the Hazratbal shrine following allegations of forced conversion.
According to an official order issued by the Waqf board, Kamal-ud-din Farooqui has been relieved from his duties as Imaam-o-Khateeb, Aasar-e-Shareef, Hazratbal until the completion of an inquiry or until further notice.
The incident in question occurred during the last Ramadan Friday congregational prayers at the Hazratbal shrine, where Imam Kamal-ud-din Farooqui allegedly oversaw the conversion of a non-local individual to Islam.
Following this, a police FIR was registered at the Nigeen Police Station against a Srinagar resident named Inayat Ahmad, who is accused of coercing his domestic help, a non-local named Sandeep, into converting to Islam.
The J&K Waqf Board took action against the cleric, Kamal-ud-din Farooqui, in response to allegations that he presided over a forced conversion during Friday prayers.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video of the conversion went viral, prompting concerns in various sections of society about whether the conversion was being publicized to sow discord among communities.
Many religious scholars have emphasized that religion is a personal and private matter of faith, and they assert that converting incidents should not be turned into spectacles at mass gatherings, as it goes against the principles of all religions, including Islam.
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