Mangalore: Women's Jum'a prayer issue causes flutter on Masjidunnoor premises

coastaldigest.com news network
September 17, 2010

Mangalore, September 17: Masjidun Noor, which created history by arranging a place for women inside the Masjid for the first time in the city over two decades ago, witnessed a strange Jum'a on Friday, September 17.

As Moulana Abdul Azeez, the Khateeb of the Masjid delivered a meaningful sermon emphasising unity among Muslim Ummmah and calling upon the believers to strive towards promoting mutual understanding, two groups of people were engaged in a scuffle inside the Masjid premises.

Quarrel broke out between two groups – with one going to the extent of pushing the women who entered the Masjid in order to offer Salah, and the other, who attempted to defend the womenfolk. Fortunately, both parties realised a few minutes later that it was a place of worship and they had to prepare for Salah.

Background

According to the management of the Masjid, the mosque does not belong to any particular group of Muslims but people of all groups have been offering Salah in the mosque without any problem since its establishment in 1988.

In fact it was the first Masjid in the city of Mangalore, which set aside a separate place for women to offer Namaz. Every day from Fajr to Isha women are allowed to offer Namaz in the Masjid without any problem.

But the management of the Masjid had restricted women's participation in Friday's special prayer because of the lack of space for worshippers.

“We do not have any objection on women entering the Masjid or offering Salah. But how can we give an entire room that could accommodate 200 men to hardly 15 women for Jum'a Namaz? Moreover there is no adequate place for men who come for prayers on Friday in the Masjid”, said one of the trustees of the Masjid on condition of anonymity.

To the court:

Questioning the Masjid management for the restriction on them, 11 women had approached the High Court of Karnataka recently and appealed to direct the management committee of the Masjid to allow them to offer Friday prayer.

According to the management committee, the High Court has asked them to allow these 11 women to offer Eid-ul-Fitr and Jum'a prayers last Friday, September 10. However the court did not issue an ultimate verdict in this issue.

But this Friday, when the same group of women entered the Masjid along with their male family members and supporters, they found no place for them inside, as men had already occupied the room.

When the women's supporters asked the men inside the women's section to go out, they refused. A scuffle broke out between the two groups at this juncture in front of media persons and police helplessly stood watching the scene hesitating to enter into the Masjid.

Finally women offered the Jum'a Salah outside the room, which had already been occupied by men.

The management committee of the Masjid however said that it was “not a serious issue”.

“I don't understand why these people quarrel for silly reasons. If there is no place for women, let them arrange place for them rather than spoiling the peaceful atmosphere. I am offering Namaz in this Masjid since 1995 and my wife also offers Namaz in the Masjid. But we have never witnessed such a strange development in this Masjid”, said one of the worshippers in the Masjid.

Arif Mulki, a resident of Mangalore held the management committee responsible for the entire issue. “Normally I offer prayer in this Masjid and I know that apart from Jum'a women are allowed for every Salah here. But it was the responsibility of management to arrange place for women this week as the court had asked them to allow women”, he said.

Umer UH, a social activist said that this Masjid is under a Trust and not under any sect or group. The management of the Masjid has taken a decision to not allow women for Jum'a Salah only because of the lack of place and not because of any differences. If they reserved a 250-people capacity room for a dozen women, those 250 people have to stand outside the Masjid, he opined.

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News Network
November 21,2025

Bantwal: A domestic dispute appears to have led to a violent confrontation in BC Road area, where the owner of a textile shop was allegedly attacked with a knife by his wife on Wednesday evening.

Krishna Kumar Somayaji, the owner of Somayaji Textiles, sustained serious injuries in the incident and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. He is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit and is reported to have survived the assault, according to police.

The Bantwal Town police have registered a case against Somayaji's wife, Jyothi KT, who has since been taken into custody.

Police stated that the complainant, Namita, an employee at the shop, reported the sequence of events. She stated that around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the suspect entered the shop, wearing a burqa and disguised as a customer, before attacking Somayaji with a knife. The employee then transported the injured owner to a local hospital via an autorickshaw.

Superintendent of Police Arun K confirmed that an ongoing domestic dispute between Somayaji and his wife reportedly preceded the attack. Police noted that Jyothi KT had previously visited the shop and issued threats.

Based on the complaint, Bantwal Town police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Indian Arms Act-1959. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

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News Network
November 22,2025

Mangaluru: Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H has warned of strict action against individuals spreading rumours and attempting to create insecurity within the Muslim community and fuel hatred between Hindus and Muslims through social media.

Referring to a recent social media post alleging that police personnel had entered a masjid premises to check whether beef was being cooked, the commissioner said miscreants were attempting to push their communal agenda. 

“A group of people, both from Mangaluru and abroad, are trying hard to spread rumours. For the past 10 days, they have been attempting to rake up old issues, highlight routine matters as controversies, or fabricate news altogether,” he said.

He reiterated that any such attempts to disturb communal harmony would invite legal action. “Cases will be registered and the accused will be brought to book,” he stated.

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News Network
November 29,2025

DKSsiddu.jpg

New Delhi: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday put up a dramatic display of unity at a closely watched joint press briefing, firmly dismissing weeks of speculation about a power-sharing tussle within the Congress. With the high command nudging both leaders to sit together and settle the dust, the meeting became a political spectacle, ending with the duo declaring that there was “no confusion, no differences.”

Calling the reports of a rift “manufactured confusion,” Siddaramaiah said the talks had gone smoothly, even joking about their breakfast. “Breakfast was very good. All three of us enjoyed it,” he said. “We want to end this confusion once and for all. For local elections and for 2028, our mission is clear — Congress must return to power. There is no difference between me and DKS, not now, not before.”

He blamed the media for fuelling rumours and reiterated absolute adherence to the party leadership. “From tomorrow, let there be no confusion. What the high command says, we will follow.”

Siddaramaiah also assured that the Assembly session starting December 8 would run smoothly and vowed that Congress would take on the BJP and JD(S) “together.”

Shivakumar echoed the chief minister word for word, stressing loyalty and discipline. “People have given us a massive mandate. It is our duty to deliver,” he said. “This government was formed under Siddaramaiah’s leadership. We both have complete trust in the high command. If they tell me to wait, I will wait.”

He added that the two leaders had discussed strategy for the 2028 Assembly elections. “Whatever the CM says, I agree. We are loyal soldiers of the party. The party may be facing challenges nationally, but we will keep it strong in Karnataka.”

Shivakumar also said Siddaramaiah would soon visit his home for lunch or dinner — another symbolic gesture meant to underline their unity.

Both leaders later posted on social media describing the breakfast meeting as “productive” and focused on “Karnataka’s priorities.”

The BJP, however, rejected the show of camaraderie as “pure bunkum,” accusing Congress of trying to paper over an internal power struggle. But Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar insisted their united front would continue — and that there was “no confusion” within the state leadership.

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