Patna: Maulana Ahmed Wali Faisal Rahmani, Amir-e-Shariat and head of Imarat-e-Sharia, on Saturday launched a call for an organised nationwide protest against the Waqf Amendment Act, describing the new law as a “deliberate assault” on the religious, educational and cultural identity of Muslims.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Rahmani said the Act poses a serious threat to institutions built on Waqf land—such as mosques, graveyards, madrasas and schools—and accused the government of attempting to strip Waqf of its constitutional protections. “If a collective voice is not raised in time, the institutions that serve society beyond religion and caste may disappear. Our identity will remain only in books,” he warned.
Rahmani alleged that the exclusion of charitable trusts from the new legal definition of Waqf has been done with intent. “In Bihar alone, nearly 3,900 madrasas operate on Waqf land through charitable trusts. The law is silent on whether they will continue to be recognised as Waqf properties,” he said.
He also questioned provisions allowing taxation of religious properties, calling it an overreach. “Who gave the government the right to impose unlimited taxes on our places of worship and community assets?” he asked.
Terming the amendment a “planned conspiracy”, Rahmani vowed to resist it through democratic means. “This is not just about land. It is about our existence, our rights, and our heritage. Imarat-e-Sharia will not remain silent. We will lead a peaceful and determined movement against this law,” he said.
The Waqf Amendment Act, passed by Parliament earlier this year, has sparked sharp reactions from religious organisations, legal experts, and civil society groups, who fear it could pave the way for state overreach and loss of minority-held lands.
