Karwar: As many as 12 families of Karwar are living under fear and uncertainty after the local Masjid Committee issued a ‘fatwa’ which renders them socially ostracized.
The crime of these families hailing from Maldarwada of Chithakula here is that they had been following a religious head from Andhra Pradesh.
Anwar Mohommed Khan, Abdul Salam and 12 other families had been following Dawal-Ali-Shahar’s discourses and had been imbibing the preaching as well. When the Jamatul Muslimeen Noorani Masjid Committee discovered the same, they instantly issue ‘fatwa’ to the 12 families. As per the religious decree signed by the Committee President and the Secretary, these 12 families will have to lead a life of social isolation.
What is disheartening is the fact that one of the victims of the ‘fatwa’- Abdul Salam is all set to get married on April 21 and since the local Masjid has refused to be part of any ritual connected to the wedding, it may be cancelled at any minute.
Though these families have brought the issue to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, the Masjid has refused to budge down to the orders of the DC to withdraw the ‘fatwa’. The Masjid Committee is adamant that it would withdraw the ‘fatwa’ only if the 12 families give in writing that they had committed a sin by following a religious leader from another sect.