The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has urged Muslims across India to wear black armbands on Alvida Juma (the last Friday of Ramzan) as a silent protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The board claims the bill poses a direct threat to religious and charitable institutions under Waqf.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the AIMPLB highlighted the ongoing protests in Delhi and Patna and announced a massive demonstration in Vijayawada on March 29, 2025.
“The Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 is a sinister conspiracy aimed at depriving Muslims of their Mosques, Eidgahs, Madrasas, Dargahs, Khanqahs, Graveyards, and charitable institutions. If this bill is passed, hundreds of these properties will be taken away from us,” the AIMPLB stated in its letter.
The board has called upon all Muslims to wear black armbands while attending mosques on Jumu’atul Wida as a peaceful show of opposition.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the bill, stating that it is against Muslims’ rights and autonomy.
“The Central government is imposing policies that infringe upon state rights, culture, and traditions. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is another such move, targeting Muslims unfairly,” said CM Stalin in the Assembly.
He further stated, “This bill undermines the rights of the Muslim community. The government has never prioritized their welfare, leaving us with no choice but to pass this resolution against it.”
The Waqf Act of 1995 was originally introduced to regulate and manage Waqf properties, but has faced criticism over mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 seeks to introduce digitization, enhanced audits, transparency, and legal measures to reclaim illegally occupied Waqf properties.
While the government argues that these changes will improve governance, critics, including the AIMPLB and opposition leaders, claim that the bill will strip the Muslim community of its religious and charitable assets.
As the debate intensifies, protests are expected to escalate in the coming days, with growing political opposition to the proposed amendments.
