Pics: Nithin Pereira

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NP)

Udupi, Jul 4: Members of the Muslim community staged a human chain protest in Udupi on Friday, opposing the recently implemented Waqf Amendment Act 2025. The demonstration was jointly organized by Udupi Jamia Masjid and Udupi Anjuman Masjid, and witnessed the participation of a large number of Muslims, who gathered after the Friday namaz to voice their dissent.

Salahuddin Abdullah, member of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), strongly criticized the amendment. Speaking at the event, he said, “The Waqf Amendment 2025 affects 20 to 30 crore Muslims across the country. Properties donated by our ancestors for religious and charitable purposes are now being taken over in an unconstitutional manner. We demand the government return our property and revoke the amendment. This protest is our way of saying we will not allow anyone to seize our community's assets.”

Shahid Ali, a member of the State SDPI emphasized the community’s united stance against the law. “This human chain is our message to the government. The Waqf amendment is unacceptable, and we stand with the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board in opposing it. We will continue our protest until the amendment is withdrawn,” he stated.

The protest took the form of a symbolic human chain, outside of the mosques and extending along the city. The participants held placards demanding the rollback of the amendment. The event concluded with participants reiterating their demand for the immediate repeal of the Waqf Amendment Act.