Nizamuddin Chief Urges Muslims to Defy Corona Lockdown: Fact Check

Story:

Shocking Audio of Nizamuddin Markaz Chief Urging Muslims to Defy Lockdown, calling Coronavirus a ‘Conspiracy’ to Divide Muslims.

Other Versions

1. Nizamuddin Markaz Head Exhorts to Defy COVID-19 Lockdown, Says Time to Stay in Mosques

2. Nizamuddin’s Jammat Chief instigates Muslims to Defy Lockdown

(Telugu)

3. కరోనా నియంత్రణ అదేశాలు పాటించవద్దని మర్కజ్ మసీదులో ఉద్బోధ

Fact Check:

An audio is viral on social media alleging to show Nizamuddin Markaz Chief Urging Muslims to Defy Coronavirus Lockdown and Stay in Mosques. In late March 2020, the Nizamuddin Markaz area in Delhi turned out as a hot spot for Coronavirus spread in India. The chief, Maulana Muhammad Saad says Coronavirus is used as a ‘Conspiracy’ reason to Divide Muslims. Yes, the claims are true and explained here.

Image of Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi — Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi

Image about Nizamuddin Chief Urges Muslims to Defy Corona Lockdown — Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi

Nizamuddin Markaz Hot Spot for Coronavirus Spread

Tablighi Jamaat (Outreach Society) is an Islamic missionary movement with a wide reach in several countries, the majority living in South Asia. Between 13-15 March 2020, a huge congregation event took place at its headquarters in Delhi, Markaz Nizamuddin. It was a time when several countries across globe were fighting the Coronavirus spread, restricting public gathering in order to reduce the increasing death toll. The organizers disregarded all Coronavirus-related warnings of social distancing and ban on large gatherings. World Health Organization guidelines were also in place at the time.

Image of Attendees of the event evacuated for Isolation — Attendees of the event evacuated for Isolation

It must be remembered, the deadly result of the untimely congregation is an unexpected spike in Coronavirus, COVID-19 cases across India. Some people who attended the event traveled to many parts of the country. As a result, the area became a major hot spot of Coronavirus infection, followed by nationwide tracing of the attendees. It came to light after six people who attended the Nizamuddin religious gathering died in Telangana on 30th March 2020. Tablighi Jamaat is in fact based in a 100-year-old building in a crowded locality of South Delhi. Consequently, Delhi Police released some inside visuals of the Nizamuddin Markaz. It shows a large number of people staying inside the building without observing social distancing norms ordered by the government.

Audio of Nizamuddin Chief, Maulana Muhammad Saad Urging Muslims to Defy Lockdown

The ‘controversial’ audio of Maulana Muhammad Saad Kandhlawi became viral online from 31st March 2020. Apparently, the clip has reached the crime branch of Delhi Police. Maulana Saad is in fact an Indian Muslim scholar and preacher, heading one faction of the Tablighi Jamaat. In his undated preaching, Maulana Saad urges his Muslim followers to defy lockdown and come out to pray together to break the Coronavirus ‘curse’. Further, he says the pandemic is used as a ‘conspiracy to separate Muslims and make them untouchable‘. On the other hand, he also added that those who have been detected with Coronavirus have to be quarantined. More importantly, in the audio, you can also hear some other people sneezing and coughing.

ABP News reports about some dangerous habits of the Tablighi Jamaat in times of Coronavirus pandemic. Like all attendees of the meeting, the chief also became a suspect for the Coronavirus infection.

Sanitization and Quarantine

Home Ministry of India said about 2,100 foreigners visited the Tablighi activities from 1st January 2020. Hundreds of the members were staying at the organization’s Nizamuddin building for a gathering in March. After the Coronavirus outbreak, a joint operation lasting over 36 hours brought out over 2,300 people from the Markaz. To make it worse, the Tablighi Jamaat attendees misbehaved with doctors and spit at them in various quarantine units. While evacuation, they also spat at various places to transmit the infection. Officials said they will identify the people in due time and file FIR against them.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation carried out a sanitization of the Markaz premises and nearby area after evacuation of the attendees. They quarantined the entire area to prevent any further spread of the virus. Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Tablighi Jamaat committed a “Talibani crime” by allowing gatherings at its Nizamuddin centre, encouraging members to travel across the country when India was trying to contain the spread of COVID-19.