“The majority of Waqf land encroachments are by Muslims themselves. Accountability begins within the community.” Mushtaq Hennabyl

“Muslims Must Choose Strategy Over Power to Protect Waqf Land: Mushtaq Hennabyl”

“Waqf Land Crisis: Writer Urges Community to Avoid Missteps and Focus on Practical Solutions”

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NEWS REPORT:

Bengaluru: Prominent writer and social commentator Mushtaq Hennabyl has issued a strong message to the Muslim community regarding the ongoing Waqf land crisis, urging them to adopt strategic measures rather than impulsive actions. Speaking on the challenges surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill, Hennabyl highlighted the critical need for introspection and effective leadership within the community to address decades of neglect in protecting Waqf properties.

“Muslims must understand that reclaiming lost Waqf land is not easy, especially in the current climate where the government has pitted major communities against them,” Hennabyl stated. He emphasized that a significant portion of Waqf land encroachments—up to 90%—has been perpetrated by Muslims themselves, underscoring the need for accountability within the community.

Hennabyl identified two potential paths for the Muslim community to safeguard their Waqf properties:

1. Political Influence: Engaging political leaders like Bihar’s Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu, who have historically benefited from Muslim support, to prevent the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament.
2. Judicial Recourse: Leveraging the 1998 Supreme Court ruling that declared, “Once a Waqf, always a Waqf,” to demand strict timelines for clearing illegal encroachments through legal channels. However, he warned that recent trends in judicial decisions suggest this path will be far more challenging.

Hennabyl criticized the community’s lack of strategic leadership and expressed concern over public demonstrations that he described as "displays of power." He argued that such actions have historically backfired, leading to increased polarization and strengthening the anti-Muslim narrative propagated by political forces.

“The central government has created a false narrative by claiming that Waqf properties are the third-largest asset in the country after defense and railways, instilling insecurity in the majority community. Sporadic and impulsive protests by Muslims only serve to further alienate other communities,” he observed.

Hennabyl called for better communication and collaboration with non-Muslim communities to counter political conspiracies that seek to isolate Muslims. “Muslims need to forge meaningful relationships with other communities to thwart attempts at political exploitation. Without this, the current narrative of division will only deepen,” he said.

While he acknowledged the daunting challenges, Hennabyl stressed that the community must adopt a calculated and unified approach to ensure justice and protect their rights over Waqf properties.

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Quotes: Mushtaq Hennabyl

1. “Muslims must stop relying on emotional displays of power and instead focus on strategic measures to save Waqf land.”

2. “The majority of Waqf land encroachments are by Muslims themselves. Accountability begins within the community.”

3. “Without collaboration with non-Muslim communities, Muslims risk further isolation and exploitation by political forces.”

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Source: Article by Mushtaq Hennabyl | Thumbnail Kannadaplanet