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Waqf Bill: Fear, Anger, Disbelief in Western UP

A visit to Muzaffarnagar, Deoband and Saharanpur—prominent cities in Western UP—reveals that several rumours pertaining to the Waqf Law are floating around. While some say the amendments are a ploy to snatch lands and properties owned by Muslims and hand them over to the government and corporates, the others say the passing of the Bill is an excuse to interfere with the religious practices of Muslims and is an attempt to fan the Hindu-Muslim fire ahead of the 2027 state elections. Snapshots from the ground

Waqf act 2025: Children wait at the gate of a mosque
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Children wait at the gate of a mosque that houses a madrasa at a basti where those displaced after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots have been living

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Waqf act 2025: Madrasa Mazahir Uloom at Saharanpur
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Madrasa Mazahir Uloom at Saharanpur

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Waqf act 2025: Mujeeb Shibli, the caretaker of Ayesha Mosque, Muzaffarnagar
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Mujeeb Shibli, the caretaker of Ayesha Mosque, Muzaffarnagar, shows the notice he got from the city magistrate for “disrupting peace”. The notice was sent to 300 others who offered namaz at Ayesha Mosque wearing black bands to protest against the Waqf Bill

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Waqf act 2025: Mohammad Mosin with the other survivors
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Mohammad Mosin with the other survivors of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots

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Waqf act 2025: Shops at Meenakshi Chowk in Muzaffarnagar
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Shops on the entire stretch at Meenakshi Chowk in Muzaffarnagar are built on Waqf property. They have been paying nominal rent for years

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Waqf act 2025: A shopkeeper shows the rent receipt
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

A shopkeeper shows the rent receipt he receives from Waqf. In an unusual move, the owners of the sixty-year-old Nagina building in Saharanpur have lent the shops on the premises to Hindu shopkeepers

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Waqf act 2025: Shops in and around the Jama Masjid in Saharanpur
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Shops in and around the Jama Masjid in Saharanpur are built on Waqf property

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Waqf act 2025: Students studying in the library of Madrasa Mazahir Uloom
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Students studying in the library of Madrasa Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur, that houses thousands of books

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Waqf act 2025: Student prepare for their entrance exam at Madrasa
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Student prepare for their entrance exam at Madrasa Mazahir Uloom, Saharanpur

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Waqf act 2025: Students waiting outside Darul Uloom
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Students waiting outside Darul Uloom in Deoband

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Waqf act 2025: Women in burqa in Muzzafarnagar
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

Women in burqa in Muzzafarnagar

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Waqf act 2025: religious procession on the Meerut-Muzaffarnagar Highway
Photo: Tribhuvan Tiwari/바카라

A religious procession is underway on the Meerut-Muzaffarnagar Highway

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