Regulating Friday’s sermons, curbing hate speech: 12-member Ulema panel to prepare code of conduct

ISLAMABAD: In line with its decision to regulate Friday’s sermons and curb hate speech and terror activities, the government has finalised a 12-member Ulema committee that will prepare a code of conduct within a week in consultation with government officials.

The notification, a copy of which is available with The News, is signed by Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad Mushtaq Ahmed. It lists a total of 12 prayer leaders of Islamabad from Deobandi, Ahle-Hadith, Brelvi and Shia schools of thoughts.

The committee will prepare a list of topics of Jumma Khutbat (Friday sermons) in line with the teachings of Islam.

The committee was prepared after a meeting of leading religious scholars from Islamabad with Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal last week.

The Terms of Reference (TORs) of the committee include preparing a draft code of conduct in line with the teachings of Islam and submitting a consolidated report “within a week positively”.

“The practice will also help in minimising terrorist activities in the country. The objective of the exercise is to maintain sectarian harmony among different schools of thoughts.

“Further it is aimed at curbing hate speeches and remarks made during sermons which hurt the sentiments of others,” the document reads.

The committee will help in implementing the final code of conduct of Jumma khutbat.

The members of committee include Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq of Bilal Masjid, G-6/3, ex Khateeb Masjid Khulfa-e-Rashdeen G-9/2 Maulana Nazir Farooqi, Khateeb Masjid Ahl-Hadith G-6/1-3 Maulana Abu Bakar Siddiqui, Qari Noor Hussain Naeemi of Masjid Baha-e-Madia G-10/3 and Maulana Akhtar Abbas, Khateeb Masjid Asna Ashry, G-6/2.

The deputy commissioner told The News that the government wanted to start a consultative process with the religious scholars to streamline Friday sermons. He said Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal had also directed the authorities to offer a package to Ulema for the repair and reconstruction of mosques in Islamabad.

Mushtaq said the initial draft of the code of conduct will be prepared by the district administration and the same will be shared with the Ulema committee for amendments and corrections.

Later a supervisory committee, comprising Ulema, will also be constituted to monitor implementation of the code of conduct, he said.

Before Ulema meeting with the interior minister, the government had prepared a list of 44 subjects for Friday sermons to be disseminated among religious scholars serving in over 1,003 mosques of rural and urban areas of Islamabad. However, the list may be amended.

The earlier document said the plan had been developed in consultation with the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) in accordance with the model followed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE where the state gives “themes” and guidelines to preachers to incorporate in Friday sermons.

It adds that the Friday sermons will be monitored by the Special Branch and weekly report will be submitted to the deputy commissioner’s office.

Later, a Ministry of Interior spokesperson clarified that the government will not monitor the Friday prayers directly.