Muslim traders speak up against Shahi Imam

About 100 shopkeepers came out on protest against the chief priest, Shahi Imam Nurur Rehman Barkati of Tipu Sultan Mosque, Kolkata giving out a clear message that they don’t stand in accord with the views of the religious leader and don’t want him to make comments on behalf of the community, reported the Indian Express.

“He (Barkati) has become a regular at these press conferences, where he makes outrageous demands. He has the right to have a political opinion. But he can’t keep… making comments on behalf of the community. He is a religious leader, not a political one,” Anwar Ali, the mutawali or caretaker of the mosque told Indian Express.

Organised last week by the Shopkeeper’s Welfare Association of the Tipu Sultan Mosque, the protesters collectively raised voice against the various controversial statements made by the Imam Barkati.

“In January, Barkati had issued a fatwa against PM Narendra Modi and offered a reward to anyone who would shave his beard and smear his face with black ink. He also argued women from across religions should wear veils and threatened to behead Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah, who is alleged to have made statements against Muslims. He also called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the ‘most secular leader’ in the country,” said the Indian Express report.

The newspaper quoted a TMC leader saying, “Muslim vote in the state are said to be around 30 per cent. But in reality, it’s closer to 40 per cent. This means that elections in Bengal are always decided by the minority vote. Barkati knows this. He gets protection from Kolkata Police and even though Mamata Banerjee has asked him to rein in his comments, he knows he can get away with it.”