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Kaleem Siddiqui

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This article is about the Indian Islamic preacher. For the British-Pakistani writer, see Kalim Siddiqui (writer).

Mawlana
Kaleem Siddiqui
Kaleem Siddiqui in 2021
Personal life
Born (1957-09-23) 23 September 1957 (age 67)
Phulat, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
Religious life
ReligionIslam

Kaleem Siddiqui (born 23 September 1957) is an Indian Islamic scholar, preacher, educationist and a member of Tablighi Jamaat. He was detained by ATS of Uttar Pradesh police with accusations of mass conversion which nationalist Hindu considered a threat to their religion,[1] he had been providing both financial and legal assistance to those who faced difficulty to adopt Islam as their consent religion. He is a disciple of Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhlawi and Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi.

Biography

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He was born on 23 September 1957 in Phulat village of Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India.[2][3] His father Haji Muhammad Amin was a Zamindar and murid of Mahmud Hasan Deobandi. His mother's name is Zubaida Khatun.[4] He received his early education at the Faizul Islam Madrasa in phulat, founded by Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, now known as Jamia Imam Wali Ullah.[5][6] In class V, he memorized first 7 Para of Quran. He passed his higher secondary in science from Pact Inter College.[5][6] He completed his BSc from Meerut College. He then appeared for the All India Pre Medical Test and finished 57th across India.[7][6][8] He later came in contact with Abul Hasan Ali Hasani Nadwi and was admitted to Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama to study Islamic subjects. He did not get admission even after getting the opportunity to get admission in MBBS.[9][8]

He has been the administrator of Jamia Imam Waliullah Islamia, Phulat, Muzaffarnagar, since the 1980s. He is also the president of the Global Peace Center and the Jamia Waliullah Trust.[6][10][11]

Political views

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In November 2014, Siddiqui remarked that "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had faced accusations related to the 2002 Gujarat riots, appeared to be a more mellowed and responsible figure. He noted that Modi's recent statements reflect a change from the earlier controversies of 2002."[12]

Arrest and conviction

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In September 2021, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Kaleem Siddiqui on charges of being involved in a large-scale religious conversion network. He was accused of illegally forcing people to convert to Islam, and it was alleged that his operations were being conducted through an organized network. The police claimed that this network was receiving funding from abroad, particularly from Gulf countries and the United Kingdom, and that approximately 500,000 people had already been converted to Islam under this scheme.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Siddiqui's arrest received backlash from various sections of the Muslim community. Zafarul Islam Khan described it as a conspiracy, comparing it to the arrest of a major Hindu figure like Shankaracharya.[21] Several Muslim organizations and leaders argued that Siddiqui was being deliberately targeted and that the charges against him were baseless.[6][22][23][24] Students from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) staged protests against the arrest, while several Muslim organizations demanded his immediate release.[25] Meanwhile, his arrest was praised by Hindu nationalist organizations, which claimed it was an essential step in preventing forced religious conversions.[26] The Uttar Pradesh ATS also conducted raids at multiple locations, including Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, as part of their investigation.[27]

In early April 2023, after having spent over 18 months in police custody, the Allahabad High Court granted him bail.[28][29][30] On September 10, 2024, a special NIA court convicted 15/16 individuals, including him and Umar Gautam, for their involvement in a pan-India illegal religious conversion racket. The trial was led by Special Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi.[31][32][33] Afterwards, on September 11, 2024, the NIA-Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) court in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, issued life sentences to 12 people, including Siddiqui and Gautam.[34][35][36][37][38][39][40]

Osama Idris Nadwi, lawyer for Siddiqui and three others, stated that they will challenge the verdict in the Allahabad High Court. He expressed disappointment, calling the decision based on weak arguments and unrealistic presumptions, with several legal loopholes.[39][41]

Books

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His most popular book is Aapki Amanat Aapki Sewa Mein.[42] His other books include:[43]

  • Hume Hidayat Kaise Mili
  • Dawat E Deen : Kuch Ghalat Fahmiyaan Kuch Haqaaiq
  • Hadiya Dawat
  • Tohfah Dawat
  • Dawat Fikr O Amal
  • Armughaan E Dawat
  • Usway Nabi E Rahmat Aur Hamaari Zindagi
  • Rafeeq Bano Fareeq Nahi
  • Har Marz Ki Dawa Hai Sallay A’laa Muhammad
  • Deeni Madaris Aur Hamaari Zimmaydaariyaan
  • Naseem Hidayat Kay Jhokay

References

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  1. ^ "UP Police arrest Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui Islamic scholar for 'forced conversion'". The Economic times. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. ^ Nadwi, Umar Nasehi (May–June 2010). "Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui's autobiographical interview" (PDF). Monthly Armugan. Hilful Fuzul Publication (Bengali translation): 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2021.
  3. ^ Abbasi, Ibn al-Hasan (October 2020). Yādgār-e-Zamāna Shakhsiyyāt Ka Ahwāl-e-Mutāla'a [Study life of memorable personalities] (in Urdu) (1st ed.). Karachi: Majlis Turāth al-Islam. p. 291.
  4. ^ Nadwi 2010, p. 11.
  5. ^ a b Nadwi 2010, p. 13.
  6. ^ a b c d e "مولانا کلیم صدیقی: انڈیا میں ہندوؤں کا مذہب تبدیل کروانے اور غیرقانونی فنڈنگ کے الزمات کے تحت گرفتار ہونے والے مولانا کلیم صدیقی کون ہیں؟" [Who is Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, who was arrested on charges of converting Hindus and illegal funding in India?]. BBC Urdu (in Urdu). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  7. ^ Nadwi 2010, p. 14.
  8. ^ a b Abbasi 2020, p. 295.
  9. ^ Nadwi 2010, p. 15.
  10. ^ Abbasi 2020, p. 291.
  11. ^ "مولانا کلیم صدیقی اور عمر گوتم کون ہیں؟ جانیے ان کا بیک گراؤنڈ اور کام" [Who are Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui and Umar Gautam? Know their background and work.]. ETV Bharat (in Urdu). 11 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  12. ^ "'Dawa can bring back deviant youth to right path'". Arab News. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Ninth Arrest: Cleric held from Meerut for 'illegal conversions'". The Indian Express. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  14. ^ Chaturvedi, Amit (22 September 2021). "Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, one of Uttar Pradesh's prominent clerics, arrested by ATS". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  15. ^ Sachdev, Vakasha (28 September 2021). "Uttar Pradesh ATS Arrests Maulana Siddiqui: Is All Religious Conversion Illegal?". The Quint. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui arrested from UP's Meerut for running 'biggest conversion syndicate'". Financial Express (India). 23 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  17. ^ "U.P. ATS arrests cleric in illegal conversion case". The Hindu. 22 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Religious conversion racket: UP ATS issues helpline number seeking info from the public". Hindustan Times. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Conversion racket case: UP ATS searches four places in Delhi". Hindustan Times. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  20. ^ Taskin, Bismee (14 October 2021). "5 lakh 'forced' into Islam, funds from Gulf, UK: What UP ATS found in 'conversion racket' probe". ThePrint. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Arrest of Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui tantamount to arresting a Shankaracharya: Zafarul-Islam Khan". The Milli Gazette. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  22. ^ "مولانا کلیم صدیقی صاحب کی گرفتاری پر سوال" [Question on the arrest of Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui]. ETV Bharat News (in Urdu). 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  23. ^ "RSS' Muslim wing opposes protest against arrest of UP cleric". Hindustan Times. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  24. ^ "'مولانا کلیم صدیقی کی گرفتاری بھارتی آئین کی پامالی ہے'" ['Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui's arrest is a violation of the Indian Constitution']. DW News (in Urdu). 23 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  25. ^ Chaturvedi, Hemendra (24 September 2021). "Conversion racket case: AMU students protest against arrest of Islamic scholar Kaleem Siddiqui". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  26. ^ Lasya, Sri (23 September 2021). "Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui had funding from Pakistan for running 'largest conversion syndicate', says UP ATS". India TV. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Conversion racket: Uttar Pradesh ATS raids Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui's premises in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh". Times Now. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  28. ^ "धर्मांतरण का रैकेट चलाने के आरोपी मौलाना कलीम सिद्दीकी को मिली जमानत, यूपी ATS ने किया था अरेस्ट" [Maulana Kalim Siddiqui, accused of running a conversion racket, got bail, was arrested by UP ATS]. Navbharat Times (in Hindi). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  29. ^ "مولانا کلیم صدیقی ڈیڑھ سال بعد جیل کی سلاخوں سے باہر آئے، ایک ماہ قبل الٰہ آباد ہائی کورٹ نے سنایا تھا ضمانت کا فیصلہ" [Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui came out of jail after a year and a half, a month ago the Allahabad High Court gave the bail decision.]. Qaumi Awaz (in Urdu). 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  30. ^ "داعی اسلام مولانا کلیم صدیقی کی گرفتاری اور مبینہ تبدیلی مذہب کیس پر ایک نظر" [A look at Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui's arrest and alleged conversion case]. ETV Bharat News (in Urdu). 5 April 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Pan-India conversion racket: 16 convicted by NIA court, quantum of sentence today". The Times of India. 11 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  32. ^ "تبدیلیٔ مذہب کیس: مولانا عمر گوتم اور مولانا کلیم صدیقی سمیت 14 ملزمان کو قصوروار قرار دیا گیا۔" [Conversion case: 14 accused including Maulana Umar Gautam and Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui were declared guilty.]. ETV Bharat News (in Urdu). 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  33. ^ Singh, Rohit Kumar (11 September 2024). "Umar Gautam, 15 others convicted in mass religious conversion case". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  34. ^ "Pan-India conversion case: Kaleem Siddiqui, Umar Gautam, and 10 others get lifer". Mathrubhumi. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  35. ^ Akhtar, Suhel (11 September 2024). "الهند.. السجن مدى الحياة لـ12 مسلما بينهم علماء بارزون" [India: Life imprisonment for 12 Muslims, including prominent scholars]. Al Jazeera Mubasher (in Arabic). Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Uttar Pradesh court awards life term for Islamic preacher, 11 others in conversion case". The Hindu. 11 September 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Islamic preachers Kalim Siddiqui, Umar Gautam, 10 others get life imprisonment in religious conversion case". ThePrint. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  38. ^ "Islamic preachers among 12 get life imprisonment in illegal religious conversion case". Hindustan Times. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  39. ^ a b Rashid, Omar (12 September 2024). "In First Major Conviction Under UP Conversion Law, Prominent Islamic Scholar and 11 Others Sentenced to Life". The Wire. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  40. ^ Rashid, Omar (14 September 2024). "'Weapon' of 'Unconventional Warfare': What the UP Court Said While Convicting 16 in Mass Conversion Case". The Wire. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  41. ^ Khan, M. Ghazali (13 September 2024). "India: Islamic preachers sentenced for Life for preaching Islam". The Muslim News. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  42. ^ Nadwi 2010, p. 53.
  43. ^ "Kaleem Siddiqui's Books". Rokomari.com.
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