Imam sued for <i>fatwa</i>
An imam of a mosque has been sued on charge of giving a questionable fatwa (religious edict) that triggered a clash, leaving seven people injured on the premises of Sardar Bari Jame Masjid in Gournadi upazila under Barisal district on Friday.
Esahaq Melkar, of Kamalapur village under Gournadi upazila on Saturday lodged the case with Gournadi police station against eight people including Maulana Sobhan Sheikh, imam of the mosque, and Fazlul Huq Sardar, local leader of Tablig Jamaat, said Mezbahuddin, officer in charge of the police station.
Maulana Sobhan recently announced a fatwa banning circulation of Azan of the mosque over loudspeaker and this created sensation among the local musallis (practising Muslims), goes the case statement.
As Esahaq Melkar protested the fatwa, the imam and his associates injured him by beating after the Juma prayers on Friday, the complainant alleged.
Later Esahaq's supporters rushed to the spot and engaged in a clash with the imam and his associates in the afternoon.
At least seven people from two groups including Esahaq Melkar, Syed Melkar, Zahid, Sohel Melkar, Fazle Huq Sardar, Khokan and Shipon were injured in the clash, locals said.
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