thus needed to be cleaned using industrial methods in accordance with the Council’s strict guidelines.”
He said that an application for court orders to be brought against 22 people was made because these individuals have been “persistently flouting” ban on the practice of zanjeerzani and have been encouraging others to flout the ban as well.
When asked why the current committee felt the need to ban Zanjeerzani when it has been practiced for decades in the Idara without any issue, Raza said that the Idara was following the “UK law and the council’s policy guidance”. Zanjeerzani has been practiced at the Idara since it’s inception in the early 1970’s, originally being conducted in a basement room of one of founders’ homes alongside majaalis when the Idara-e-Jaaferiya was originally started in 1968.
Speaking on behalf of the affected community members, Sharaz Mir told The News that the ban brought by the Idara was an attack on the beliefs of millions of those who believe in Zanjeerzani as part of their faith. He said the new Idara committee members “have tried to impose a differing ideology to that of the rest of the community”.
He said: “There are roumours of converting the Idara into a faith school, selling the building for financial gain, the list goes on, but what is clear is that their differing school of thought mainly revolves around Azadari, namely ZanjeerZani. They have banned Zanjeer in the Idara under the illegitimate guise of Health & Safety and non-compliant Insurance. They have fragrantly and openly disagreed with the Head of Ulema Shia Europe and the respected Marja’s advice not to ban Azadari and take individuals to court to avoid Fitna within the community.
He said that the Idara has the backing of an organization that has allegedly mocked Zanjeerzani, calling it a “barbaric act”, equating this form of Azadari to smoking drugs, and calling the Zanjeer a “weapon”. He said that the 22 individuals who have agreed to the courts undertaking will limit their Azadaari to exclude Zanjeerzani without compromise but there was no guarantee about those who have no court orders on them.