Raza Academy
| Formation | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Raza Academy 52 - Dontad Street, Khadak, Mumbai - 400009 |
President | Muhammad Saeed Noori |
Key people | Muhammad Saeed Noori |
| Website | www |
| Part of a series on Islamism |
|---|
 Politics portal |
Raza Academy is a Sunni Muslim[1] fundamentalist[2] Islamist[3][4][5] group based in Maharashtra, India. It was formed in 1978 by Alhaj Mohammed Saeed Noori as a small publishing house, and later became known for protests for the rights of Muslims. The group publishes books of Barelvi scholars in various languages, the Kanzul Iman translation of the Quran, and Fatawa-i Razawiyya. The group also conducts charity and advocacy work for the Muslim community.[6]
Early history and publishing
[edit]Raza Academy was founded in 1978 by Alhaj Mohammed Saeed Noori, who has served as the organization's president since 1986.[7] According to a report,[specify] "It maintains a web portal from as early as 1998 that includes directories of associated institutions and ulema."[8] The Academy has published several hundred books of Ahle Sunnah scholars in various languages. Kanzul Iman, a translation of the Quran, is being published by it in Urdu and in English. It has also published Fatawa-e-Razvia in 25 volumes. The books on life and works of Imam Ahmed Raza Al Qadri and biographies of other Sunni Sufi scholars were also published by the Academy.[9]
Relief and charity work
[edit]In 2012, Raza Academy and All India Sunni Jamiat ul Ulema formed the Sunni Relief Committee to help distribute relief materials collected from various parts of West Bengal and Maharashtra among the riot victims in Assam.[10] The organisation distributed relief material during 2018 Kerala floods[11] and facilitated the burial of Muslim COVID-19 victims in Mumbai.[12]
Advocacy and protests
[edit]In 2006, in the Bhiwandi suburb of Mumbai, two policemen were killed after protests organised by Raza Academy.[13][14] On 11 August 2012, Raza Academy held a protest against the riots in Assam and attacks on Muslims in Myanmar at Azad Maidan in Mumbai with two other groups. The protest ended in the Azad Maidan riots, in which two people were killed and more than fifty injured.[15][16][17] Raza Academy was blamed for the widespread violence[18] and a court asked them to pay ₹3 crore (30 million rupees) in property damage.[19] In November 2021, the group organised a protest of the violence in Tripura which also turned violent and was brought under control after the imposition of a curfew.[20]
The organisation has protested the women's rights programs of Taslima Nasrin and Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.[21] It deemed the enactment of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 – which declared triple talaq (instant divorce) as a criminal offense – to infringe upon the religious rights of Muslims in India.[22]
In 2015, Raza Academy issued a fatwa against music composer A. R. Rahman and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi for making a film on Muhammad.[23] In 2018, it called for the ban on the public dissemination of the viral song "Manikya Malaraya Poovi" from Oru Adaar Love, which allegedly insulted Mohammed and his wife.[24][25] In February's 2021, it lodged a complaint against the BBC for publishing picture of Muhammad. The BBC revised the video and removed the contents that hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.[citation needed]
In 2016, Raza Academy held protests calling for the ban of Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik following allegations that the perpetrators of the 2016 Gulshan attack were inspired by Naik.[26][27]
Raza Academy held solidarity marches and demonstrations against Pakistan after the 2019 Pulwama attack and 2019 Balakot airstrike.[28][29][30] On 29 October 2020, Raza Academy stamped posters of French president Emmanuel Macron on Mumbai roads in reaction to Macron's remarks on Muslims.[31]
Raza Academy handed a memo to the Superintendent of Ajmer Police Station demanding Ban on Ajmer 92 films and stated that it harms the trust and faith of Muslims on Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.[32] They stated if it is not banned they'll launch a great protest.[33][34]
On 3 July 2023, Raza Academy protested against Sweden. Raza Academy demanded death penalty for the person who burnt Quran. Academy President Muhammad Saeed Noori was leading this Protest.[35]
On 12 November 2021, Raza Academy called statewide protests in Maharashtra against the alleged burning of a Mosque in Tripura. The protests turned violent in Malegaon, Amravati and Nanded. The protestors damaged public properties and stone pelted the Police.[36]
See also
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- Punwani, Jyoti (2012). "Mumbai's Muslims and 'Friends'". Economic and Political Weekly. 47 (34): 16–18. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 41720054.
References
[edit]- ^ "World: South Asia Rushdie effigies burned in India". news.bbc.co.uk/. BBC Online.
- ^ "From Bangladesh, with courage". frontline.thehindu.com/. Frontline. 17 March 2000.
- ^ "SC slaps ₹50k fine on plea to remove Quran verses, says 'absolutely frivolous'". Hindustan Times. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Islamist group in Mumbai protests against opening of Cinema halls in holy city Madina – Mysuru Today". Retrieved 29 May 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sushant Rajput, Aryan Khan, Param Bir Singh — 2 yrs of MVA govt dominated by Centre-state rows". ThePrint. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ TwoCircles.net (25 September 2012). "Raza Academy spearheading relief work in Assam". TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Mohammed Wajihuddin (2 September 2012). "Saeed Noori: Raza Academy just a protest dukaan: Cleric | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ Eisenlohr, Patrick (8 June 2018). "3. Aspirations in Transnational Religious Networks". Sounding Islam. University of California Press. pp. 38–58. doi:10.1525/9780520970762-006. ISBN 9780520970762 – via www.degruyter.com.
- ^ "All writings of Raza Academy, Mumbai". Rekhta.
- ^ "Raza Academy spearheading relief work in Assam". 25 September 2012.
- ^ Malayalam Manorma, 28 Sep 2018
- ^ "Raza Academy to facilitate burial of COVID-19 victims in Mumbai". ANI News.
- ^ "All 18 accused in 2006 Bhiwandi arson attack case acquitted". The Times of India. 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Charred bodies of two cops found in Bhiwandi after riot". archive.indianexpress.com/.
- ^ "Protest against Assam riots turns violent in Mumbai". The Times of India. Mumbai, India. IANS. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ Chandavarkar, Rohit (12 August 2012). "Assam riots: 2 killed, 20 injured as protestors go on rampage in Mumbai". The Economic Times.
- ^ 2 dead, 54 hurt in Mumbai protest over Assam violence. Indian Express (2012-08-11). Retrieved on 2012-08-14.
- ^ "Azad maidan riot: Reconsider notice to Raza Academy, HC tells state". indianexpress.com/. 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Won't pay Rs 3 crore fine for Azad Maidan riots: Raza Academy". mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/.
- ^ "Raza Academy in focus as protest rallies turn violent in Amravati, Nanded, Malegaon". Hindustan Times. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Wajihuddin, Mohammed (2 September 2012). "Raza Academy just a protest dukaan: Cleric". Times of India. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Ray, Chandrakana (29 December 2017). "'Instant triple talaq bill' against religious rights: Raza Academy". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Fatwa against A R Rahman and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi for film on Prophet". Indian Express. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
- ^ "Raza Academy Demands Ban On Priya Varrier's Video of Manikya Malaraya Poovi". News18. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Mayuresh Ganapatye (15 February 2018). "Raza Academy writes to CBFC to ban Priya Varrier's viral video from Oru Adaar Love film". India Today. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Muslim institution Raza Academy protests against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in Mumbai". ABP Live. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "NIA Will Questiones Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik After Return". Dainik Bhaskar. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Mumbai erupts in anger over Pulwama attack through bandhs, protests and candle marches | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Joshi, Anushree (16 February 2019). "Mumbai unites to express solidarity". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Mumbai: Celebrations amid high alert". The Indian Express. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Macron's posters pasted on roads removed by Mumbai police". The Indian Express. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "रज़ा एकेडमी ने 'अजमेर 92' फिल्म के खिलाफ एसपी को दिया ज्ञापन, मुहम्मद सईद नूरी ने विरोध प्रदर्शन की चेतावनी दी | Journo Mirror". 8 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Raza Academy on Ajmer 92 Film اجمیر 92 فلم کے ذریعے نفرت پھیلانے کی سازش رضا اکیڈمی". ETV Bharat News (in Urdu). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Protests intensified as soon as the poster of Ajmer 92 files surfaced accused of tarnishing the image of Dargah Sharif | "अजमेर 92 फाइल्स" का पोस्टर सामने आते ही विरोध तेज, दरगाह शरीफ की छवि खराब करने का आरोप| Hindi News, अजमेर". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ India, GalliNews (3 July 2023). "Quran Sharif Jalane Par Sweden Ke Khilaf Mumbai Me Raza Academy Ka Protest". GalliNews India. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "How the Raza Academy is again at the centre of Maharashtra violence". India Today. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2024.