Coronavirus: 2 Mosques from Assam's Jorhat Shut Doors to Tablighi Jamaat Members

Guwahati, April 7, 2020:

Two mosques in Assam's Jorhat district, Rojahauli and Kokilamukh, have banned the entry of personnel from the Tablighi Jamaat sect, days after it came to light that thousands took part in a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Rojahauli mosque committee, condemning the gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz, has further been stated that legal action will be taken if persons from the mosques participate in future Tabligh Jamaat gatherings. Moreover, members of the mosques have been urged not to express any questionable opinions on social media.

Similarly, the Baligaon Muslim Society, condemning the incident, has also banned the entry of the Jamaat members in light of the "situation" that has unfolded in Assam in the aftermath of the gathering. The society has further promised action against anyone from Baligaon who takes part in Tablighi Jamaat gatherings.

ALSO READ: 500 PHE Employees of Dima Hasao, Deprived of Salary for 10 Months, Begin ‘Beton Deu’ Movement on Social Media

Meanwhile, in Guwahati, the Burah Jame Masjid has appealed its followers to abide by the Government prescribed protocol to combat the coronavirus. Now, the Masjid said that night time namaz has been suspended and the Muslims have been urged to observe all the religious rites and worship activities -- including the reciting of Namaaz -- in their homes. The note was undersigned by Nizamul Haque, the General Secretary of the Burha Jame Masjid Committee in Guwahati's Ambari.

Jamaat attendees have been singled out by many in the ruling administration for allegedly spreading the virus. In Assam, 25 of the 26 positive cases have links to the Nizamuddin Markaz gathering. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has also hinted that the attendees are responsible for an increase in the number of cases in India.

The government alleges that the Tablighi Jamaat — which is more than a century old and promotes Islamic teachings — hosted the gathering of thousands of people from across India and abroad despite the threat of coronavirus.

The Government, terming the gathering as a "super spreader", claims that the doubling rate of the disease has increased exponentially  "More than a 30 percent surge in coronavirus cases in India took place because of the Tablighi Jamaat", Lav Agrawal, India’s health secretary, told the media on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Tripura: Tea Gardens to Reopen Partially with 50% Workers and Adequate Safety Measures amid Covid-19

Several Muslim organizations have taken affront to this. the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a Muslim body has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre to stop dissemination of "fake news" and take strict action against a section of the media for allegedly "spreading communal hatred and bigotry."

"It is submitted that such reporting has triggered communal antagonism and has also perpetrated hatred, resulting in fissiparous tendencies gaining foothold, undermining and affecting communal harmony," the plea said.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.