A complaint has been filed against a Pakistani-origin UK citizen named Muhammad Saqib bin Iqbal Shaami alias Saqib Iqbal Shami, for alleged anti-India activities and violating Indian visa norms by indulging in mass religious preachings.
Also known as Saqib-Ul-Qadri Shami, he is touring India and organizing Islamic religious events in various cities. As a part of his schedule, he will attend a massive religious event in Azam Jahi Mill Grounds, Warangal as a chief guest and principal speaker on 4 February 2023.
He had participated in a mass Islamic religious event at Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh on 2 February 2023.
In his social media post he termed it as the “biggest political, cultural, social & Islamic gathering of all time”.
it was the biggest political, cultural, social & Islamic gathering of all time, thousands of students that could not enter the packed Kennedy auditorium were watching patiently on many screens outside & around the university.
May The Almighty preserve this voice of Haq! Ameen.
— Saqib Iqbal (@ShaykhSaqib) February 2, 2023
In another social media post, Saqib Iqbal Shami revealed that he has a residence in Karachi, Pakistan. According to Legal Rights Protection Forum, he is possibly holding Pakistan citizenship parallelly. “If this is the case, it is a matter of grave concern for India’s safety, security and sovereignty.”, the organization working in the area of national security said.
Mufti akmal qadri sahib visits sayyidi shaykh Saqib shaami hh at his residence in Karachi. Details and recordings of fiqhi masail discussed will be posted later inshaAllah. pic.twitter.com/MFPYbJABjq
— Saqib Iqbal (@ShaykhSaqib) February 11, 2018
LRPF in its complaint note that he is interfering in Indian internal policy matters. He is one among the 120 Islamic scholars from the United Kingdom who wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing dissatisfaction and displeasure over the abrogation of Article 370.
“Given the above circumstances and the most serious matter, we humbly request you to take preventive steps to stop his event scheduled in Warangal and take action against him and the sponsors/organisers of the event under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946. We also request you blacklist him to prevent his further entry into India.”, LRPF said in its complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, in its reply under the Right to Information Act, has made it clear that the Government of India does not issue visas to religious preachers who desire to visit India to participate in religious campaigns and religious activities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its another RTI reply, vide File No. RTI/46/2015-F-1 dated 2 October 2015 stated that there is no visa category for foreign nationals intending to visit India to attend religious program, and foreign nationals entering India on the strength of a Tourist Visa are not allowed to preach and propagate his religion in India.
A tourist visa can only be used for non-business purposes, such as tourism or visiting family and friends. Even if one holds a missionary visa, the person cannot use it for proselytizing activities and can only join a missionary organization approved by the Government of India for which the organization must receive a certificate indicating it is compliant with the Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act.
Later, on several occasions, the same has been reiterated by the Ministry of Home Affairs that foreigners are not allowed to be involved in Tablighi or religious activities in India.
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