India: a law on Muslim religious property causes anger
The Indian Parliament adopted this controversial law on Friday, April 5, 2025 on Friday, April 5, 2025, amending the management of WAQFS goods, these Muslim religious properties estimated at several billion dollars. The vote came after weeks of vivid debates and demonstrations across the country. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised a “historic” reform intended to “provide more transparency” in the management of these goods. “This law will protect the rights of all while modernizing the system,” he said on X (ex-Twitter).
But the opposition and Muslim organizations denounce an infringement of the rights of the Muslim minority, which represents 200 million people in India. More than 60,000 demonstrators gathered Thursday in Kolkata, brandishing banners “no to the destruction of our waqfs”.
The main changes
The new law introduces several key provisions:
- The end of the recognition of WAQFS goods by simple oral tradition, now demanding official documents
- The possibility for non-Muslims to sit in management advice
- A reinforced role of the State in land disputes concerning these properties
The deputy Asududdin Owaisi, figurehead of the protest, immediately announced an appeal to the Supreme Court. “It is a discriminatory law that aims to give control of our religious property to the government,” he said during a rally in New Delhi. Observers now expect the Indian President to quickly promulgate the text, despite the protests that continue to increase in several states.
