Kashmir Amalgam Sounds Alarm Over ‘Intrusive’ Police Data Drive
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the MMU said it had received credible reports that police personnel were circulating extensive multi‑page forms to mosques, madrasas, and other Muslim places of worship. These forms, it said, seek highly personal and sensitive information from imams, khateebs, mosque administrators, and individuals associated with religious institutions
SRINAGAR: Mutahida Majlis‑e‑Ulema (MMU), the apex coalition of Muslim clerics and religious organisations in Kashmir headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has voiced strong concern over what it describes as an unprecedented and deeply intrusive data‑collection exercise being carried out by the police across the Valley.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the MMU said it had received credible reports that police personnel were circulating extensive multi‑page forms to mosques, madrasas, and other Muslim places of worship. These forms, it said, seek highly personal and sensitive information from imams, khateebs, mosque administrators, and individuals associated with religious institutions.
According to the MMU, the forms demand details such as personal identification and family particulars, financial records, phone numbers and IMEI data, digital and social‑media profiles, passport information and travel history and ideological affiliation of each mosque — Barelvi, Hanafi, Deobandi, or Ahle‑Hadith. It said that such scale and nature of the information being sought has triggered widespread anxiety among religious scholars, mosque committees, and the general public.
The MMU asserted that the exercise “violates fundamental rights, including the right to privacy and protection of personal information guaranteed under the Constitution.” It emphasised that mosques are sacred spaces dedicated to worship, guidance, and community service, and “their internal religious affairs cannot be subjected to arbitrary surveillance or intrusive scrutiny.”
The statement further argued that the depth of data being collected “goes far beyond any routine administrative requirement,” raising serious concerns about the intent behind the exercise. The MMU said the exclusive focus on Muslim religious institutions in Jammu and Kashmir “makes the motives even more questionable.”
Calling for immediate intervention, the MMU urged the elected government to halt the process without delay. It warned that such measures erode trust, instill fear among religious functionaries, and send a troubling message to the Muslim community. “Targeting mosques and religious personnel in this manner is unjustified, counter‑productive, and detrimental to social harmony,” it said.
The MMU appealed to the Lieutenant Governor–led administration to withdraw the data‑collection drive, respect the autonomy of religious institutions, and uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, privacy, and human dignity. It added that it will soon convene a meeting of its constituent bodies and senior religious leaders to deliberate on the issue and determine the future course of action should the exercise continue.
