3 days ago
Back-to-back protests against the Waqf Act
Two major demonstrations are scheduled on consecutive days in Hyderabad to oppose the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025
The first protest, scheduled for May 31, is being organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), a collaborative effort of socio-religious groups such as Tehreek Muslim Shabban, and political figures including Amjed Ullah Khan, the spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek. Members of the Congress party have also extended their support to the protest.
According to JAC convenor Mushtaq Mallik, the group had earlier sought permission from the police to organise the protest but was denied on certain grounds. The JAC said that they would go ahead with the demonstration at Dharna Chowk from 2 pm to 5 pm. Memebers had previously led the city's anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests at the same location.
Meanwhile, the second protest is scheduled for June 1 and will be led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a pan-India body comprising Islamic scholars, legal experts, and professionals. As part of its nationwide outreach, the AIMPLB has been conducting public meetings to raise awareness about what it perceives as a negative ripple effect of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. In Hyderabad, the Board recently held a protest meeting at Darussalam, the headquarters of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). It also recently organised a Lights Off protest and a human chain, both symbolic protests against the new waqf legislation.
Both the JAC and AIMPLB have expressed confidence in mobilising large crowds in opposition to the new Act. Both protests will take place at Dharna Chowk.
However, there have been murmurs, that both groups are not on the same page. Efforts to organise a single protest on one day have not been successful. There are indications that this could be due to disagreements of a political nature. The AIMPLB team, speaking to the media, pointed out that that their demonstration is scheduled for June 1. Both groups have urged the public to attend the demonstration in large numbers.
The Waqf legislation has drawn criticism from various Muslim organisations and INDIA alliance leaders who maintained that it is likely that the Bharatiya Janata Party would snatch waqf properties from the control of Muslims. The Act undermines the purpose and spirit of waqf .
