Kashmir's Shia Clergy Charts New Course In View of ‘Adverse' Situation

Srinagar: A major gathering of Shia clergy Thursday decided to unitedly fight the challenges posed by the ‘new and unfavourable' situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The conference held at Jamia Elmiya Imam Reza in city outskirts unanimously decided to constitute a forum called ‘Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Imamia Jammu and Kashmir' which will carry out its activities in the spheres of religion, education and social arenas in the backdrop of new realities faced by the people of Kashmir.

The day long conference was attended by prominent religious heads and pass outs from Qum and Najaf seminaries.

“The conference lauded the role of clergy in discharging their religious duties despite the challenging situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The conference also felt that the responsibilities of religious leaders and scholars have increased manifold,” a handout issued today said.

“So, in light of contemporary challenges and the changing circumstances, it was unanimously decided to constitute a joint forum ‘Majlise-Ulma-e-Imamia Jammu and Kashmir' comprising academicians, social and religious figures besides pass-outs of reputed religious seminaries which will take a united stand on various socio-political and religious and community issues,” it added.

The handout further said that to take the process of constituting the joint forum, an adhoc body will be formed that will work for four months before a permanent body of Majlis-e-Ulema is formally elected.