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Tawqir Raza Khan

Tawqir Raza Khan (Urdu: توقیر رضا خان, romanized: Tawqīr Raẓā Khān) is an Indian Islamic scholar and politician who is the founder of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, a political party based in Uttar Pradesh. A prominent figure of the Barelvi Sunni Muslims, Tawqir is a great-grandson of Ahmad Raza Khan.

Mawlana
Tawqir Raza Khan
Personal
Born
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
ReligionIslam
NationalityIndian
RegionIndia
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanafi
CreedMaturidi
MovementBarelvism
Political partyIttehad-e-Millat Council
TariqaQadri
Organization
Founder ofAll India Muslim Personal Law Board (Jadeed)
Tawqir on the left

Tawqir Raza Khan also heads the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (Jadeed) after he cut ties with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, claiming discrimination by the Deobandis. Khan was elevated to the post of the Vice Chairman of his state's handloom department but resigned following the Muzaffarnagar riots. In 2016 he visited Deoband and met Deobandi scholars in an attempt to forge unity among Muslims. For this he was criticised by clerics from his own sect and apologised after being found guilty of commuting sin by a panel of religious clerics. Tawqir has also been accused of inciting hatred against Hindus.

Personal life

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Tawqir Raza Khan is the great-grandson of Ahmad Raza Khan, the founder of the Barelvi movement.[1] His elder brother, Subhan Raza Khan, was the Sajjadanashin of Dargah-e-Aala Hazrat, the shrine of Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi.[2]

Career

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Political career

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On 7 October 2001 Raza Khan formed his own political party, the Ittehad-e-Millat Council. In the first municipal election the party contested, it won 10 seats. The mayoral candidate of the party secured 36,000 votes.[3]

In the 2009 Indian general election, Raza Khan supported the Indian National Congress party. With his support a Congress candidate – Praveen Singh Aron – was able defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and a six-time member of parliament Santosh Gangwar. In the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, he pledged his support for the Samajwadi Party, and in the 2014 Indian general election, he supported the Bahujan Samaj Party.[4]

In the 2012 election Raza Khan urged voters to vote in the name of religion for the minority community. The party made Shazil Islam Ansari, a former Bahujan Samaj Party minister, the candidate from Bhojipura constituency, which was home to 125,000 Muslims.[5] Though he won from the constituency, he joined the Samajwadi Party.[6]

In May 2013 Raza Khan was appointed as the vice chairman of the Handloom Corporation on the condition that the Samajwadi Party would reconsider their candidates fielded in Moradabad and Bareilly for the 2014 Indian general election. He also demanded that a committee be created to investigate the causes of the communal riots that took place in the state during the tenure of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. He also made clear that his party had not merged with the Samajwadi Party.[7] However, in September 2014 he resigned from his post following the Muzaffarnagar riots. He accused the Samajwadi-led government of failing to protect Muslim citizens. He also alleged that his demand of an investigation into the communal riots had not been fulfilled.[8] He also said:

The people of Uttar Pradesh had high hopes from the young chief minister Akhilesh Yadav – that he would herald a new era in the state, but he has disappointed people as he has no control over the officers of the police and the civil administration. This has created an anarchy-like situation in the state. If the Chief Minister had the ability and experience to run the administration, the situation in Muzaffarnagar would not have been so critical.[8]

In November 2013, Raza Khan was visited by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who said that the man next to him was a "respectable person in the town". Kejriwal also refused to accept that by virtue of this meeting he was appeasing the Muslims. Raza Khan said that he liked Kejriwal for his India Against Corruption movement.[9]

Religious career

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The All India Muslim Personal Law Board is a non-governmental organization for personal laws of the Muslims in India. Alleging discrimination, the Shia Muslims formed a parallel All India Shia Personal Law Board. In February 2005 Raza Khan formed his own All India Muslim Personal Law Board (Jadeed) ("Modern") for the Barelvi Muslims after alleging discrimination from the Deobandi members of the Law Board.[10] He said:

AIMPLB has lost all credibility as its two main components have separated. We are the new board now. We were feeling suffocated earlier.[10]

In May 2016 Raza Khan visited Deoband, the city from which a rival sect Deobandi originated, to meet the family of a boy who had been arrested on accusations of being involved in terrorism. He also visited the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary and spoke to Deobandi religious scholars. The Milli Gazette wrote that it was a move towards unity among Muslims.[11] He said that though the Deobandis and Barelvis differed on theological issues, they should remain united while facing issues affecting the Islamic community. He also said that there was a need to fight the "common enemy". The Times of India wrote that the clerics from the rival sects had met, noting that it was a rare event for a cleric to visit the other's seminary.[12]

The Times of India wrote that Raza Khan's visit to Deoband "stirred a sectarian storm" among the religious scholars of the Barelvi sect. His brother, Subhan Raza Khan, warned that he would face a boycott if he failed to apologise publicly. He said that he would do the same only if a fatwa (Islamic legal ruling) was issued by a mufti condemning his visit. A panel of 12 muftis was formed by the officials of the shrine of Ahmad Raza Khan who were given the responsibility to investigate the discussion that took place between Tawqir Raza Khan and the Deobandi scholars based on media files uploaded on social media.[2] Khan was tried in a court held at the Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat. The panel of muftis found him guilty of doing an act of haram (religious sin). He consequently performed a tauba (repenting before God).[13]

Views

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Sufi conference

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In March 2016 an International Sufi Conference was held in Delhi which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[14] Raza Khan criticised the event, claiming that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (a Hindu right-wing organization) was creating sectarian conflict among the Muslims with this conference. He also said:

The history is witness of the fact that a Sufi never went to the doors of rich, its first time that in name of Sufism privileges are being availed from Prime Minister and the RSS.[15]

2024 Haldwani Violence

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On 9 February 2024, issued a statement against the 2024 Haldwani Violence. He held Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand responsible for the Haldwani incident.[16] He said

Now no bulldozer will be tolerated, if the Supreme Court is not taking cognizance then we will protect ourselves. We have a legal right, if someone dominates us then we will kill him, this is our legal right.[17][18] Our people have been forcibly restrained, we have controlled our youth. Organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal are acting dishonestly on the strength of the government. The courts are working as per faith, there will be problems if terrorist organizations like VHP and Bajrang Dal are not controlled.[19] CM Dhami is responsible for the reaction in Haldwani, he should be arrested.[20]

Controversies

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Taslima Nasrin issue

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Raza Khan became controversial when he spoke about Taslima Nasrin, a Bangladeshi anti-Islamic author. In 2007 Raza Khan had announced a reward of Rs5 lakh on the author's head if the Indian government did not restrict her entry to India.[21] According to a report, Khan had said, "the only way a fatwa against Taslima Nasreen, whose writings clerics denounced as anti-Islam, could be withdrawn was if she burnt her books and left India."[22]

2010 arrest

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In 2010 Raza Khan was arrested in connection to a riot between Hindus and Muslims that broke out in the city of Bareilly. While the Muslims demanded his release, the Hindus protested against it. In a joint statement, the Muslim Students Organisation and the Barkati Educational Trust said that he was arrested on the basis of a fake complaint and claimed that, if he was not released, the city might not return to normalcy. Even though he was released, Outlook India wrote that it had led to polarisation among Hindus and Muslims on religious lines.[23][24]

In March 2024, A session court declared that Tawqir Raza Khan was the mastermind of the 2010 riots. The Court mentioned that the inflammatory speech of Tawqir Raza incited a Muslim mob that vandalized properties and religious places of other communities. The court also accused then state administration of trying to shield Tawqir Raza Khan. [25][26]

Against banning Triple Talaq

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In a program for religious unity held in Bareilly, Raza Khan claimed that Hindu women had five husbands and that they did not know who the father of their children was. He also warned that Muslims would interfere in the matters of Hindus if the Hindus interfered in the matters of Muslims. He made these comments in response to the debate of implementing a uniform civil code in the country and banning the Islamic instant divorce.[27][28]

2024 Jail Bharo Aandolan

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On 9 February 2024, Khan was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police after Khan announced for the Jail Bharo Aandolan (Fill the prison movement). It was started after Mufti Salman Azhari was arrested and in response to the Court verdict regarding Gyanvapi Mosque and against the Statements of Yogi Adityanath against Shahi Idgah Mosque.[29] He had called for the protest on 8 February 2024.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "'A mother's tears' bring rival Sunni sects together". Indian Express. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Panel of muftis to probe charges against Tauqeer Raza after Deoband meet". Times of India. 14 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  3. ^ "तौकीर रजा और सपा की दोस्ती में तीन मर्तबा पड़ चुकी है दरार" (in Hindi). Jagran. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Barelvi cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza to contest 50 seats in UP polls". Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ^ Khan, Atiq (27 February 2012). "A litmus test for the Barelvi Muslims". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  6. ^ "2 Akhilesh loyalists, sitting MLAs lose tickets". Times of India. 28 December 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Barelvi cleric elevated,wants SP to review candidates". Indian Express. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Prominent Muslim leader Maulana Tauqeer resigns over Muzaffarnagar riots". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Arvind Kejriwal courts controversy over meeting Muslim cleric Maulana Tauqeer Rana". Economic Times. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Talaq, Talaq, Talaq". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan visits Darul Uloom Deoband". The Milli Gazette. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Deoband, Barelvi clerics meet, talk unity against 'common enemy'". Indian Express. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  13. ^ "देवबंद जाने पर मौलाना तौकीर की तौबा". Jagran. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Sufi Conference draws flak". Press Reader. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  15. ^ "RSS is behind Sufi Conference : Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan". Siasat. 19 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  16. ^ Mishra, Ashish Kumar (9 February 2024). "हल्द्वानी में हिंसा, बरेली तक पहुंची आंच... क्या है 700km दूर ज्ञानवापी से कनेक्शन?". TV9 Bharatvarsh (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Tauqeer Raza makes huge remark on Haldwani Violence". zeenews.india.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  18. ^ Shukla, Raghvendra. "मौलाना तौकीर रजा कौन हैं? फतवा से लेकर खून बहाने की धमकी तक... विवादों से रहा है पुराना नाता". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  19. ^ Tiwari, Divyankar (9 February 2024). "'हल्द्वानी घटना के जिम्मेदार सीएम धामी', मौलाना तौकीर रजा ने पीएम मोदी पर भी साधा निशाना". ABP News (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  20. ^ Kumar, Mukesh. "UP: 'अब बुलडोजर बर्दाश्त नहीं, अगर हम पर कोई हमला होता है तो...'; हल्द्वानी हिंसा पर भड़के मौलाना तौकीर". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  21. ^ "News, Breaking News, Latest News, News Headlines, Live News, Today News CNN-News18". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  22. ^ "The charges levelled against Tauqeer Raza regarding issue of fatwa against Taslima Nasreen are wrong: Arvind Kejriwal". Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  23. ^ "Bareilly Burns Amid Barelwi Triumph". Outlook India. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  24. ^ "Release Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan: Muslim bodies". Two Circles. 9 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  25. ^ Bureau, ABP News (5 March 2024). "UP Court Calls Maulana Tauqeer Raza 'Mastermind' Of 2010 Bareilly Riots, Asks Him To Appear On". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 7 March 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ "Bareilly: तौकीर रजा की तकरीर से भड़का था 2010 में दंगा, कोर्ट ने माना मुख्य साजिशकर्ता; जानिए पूरा मामला". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  27. ^ "मौलाना तौकीर ने उगला जहर-हिंदू महिलाओं के होते हैं 5 शौहर, बच्चों के बाप का नाम पता नहीं होता". India samvad. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  28. ^ "मौलाना तौकीर रजा ने कहा- हिन्‍दू महिलाओं के होते हैं पांच पति, पता नहीं बच्‍चे का बाप कौन". Bhaskar. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  29. ^ "Tension in UP's Bareilly Over Islamic Cleric's 'Jail Bharo' Andolan, Leader Detained". News18. 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  30. ^ "Bareilly tense as Muslim cleric detained over 'jail bharo' call in Gyanvapi case". India Today. 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
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