Ahmed Bukhari

Syed Ahmed Bukhari
Shahi Imam
Jama Masjid, Delhi
Assumed office
14 October 2000
Preceded by Abdullah Bukhari
Personal details
Died New Delhi, India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi

Syed Ahmed Bukhari is the 13th Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, Delhi.[1]

Ancestry and appointment

Bukhari succeeded his father, Syed Abdulla Bukhari, on 14 October 2000 as Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in Delhi.[2] On 22 November 2014, his son, Shaban Bukhari, was formally designated to be the next Shahi Imam, although As of 2017, Syed Ahmed Bukhari remains in the post.[3]

In 2014, in an interview with The Times of India, Syed Ahmen Bukhari said, "Modi claims to be the Prime Minister of 125 crore Indians but conveniently and deliberately avoids addressing Muslims. He has shown he doesn't like us. He is the one who has been maintaining distance from the community. So, I too chose to maintain my distance."[1]

Controversy

A criminal case was lodged against him along with Habib-ur-Rehman and Nafisa in 2001, after an incident on 3 September 2001, when a mob, led by Bukhari assaulted on-duty police and civic agencies officials trying to remove encroachments from near CGO Complex in Lodhi Colony.[4] Bailable Warrants against Bukhari for this case have been issued over and over by the Delhi court. Delhi Police has been unsuccessful to arrest him citing communal tension for the past 10 years. The Magistrate observed that legal provisions entailed initiating the proceedings of declaring Bukhari a proclaimed offender, but doing so would "undermine the authority of law." Also noted: "In my considered opinion, declaring accused Ahmed Bukhari a proclaimed offender would be a mockery of law and it would provide an easy escape route to the accused. It is surprising and shocking as well to see the police force not be able to execute the NBW issued against Bukhari. Such inaction by police cannot be tolerated," he said in his order in July 2012.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Eyebrows raised as Bukhari invites Sharif, snubs Modi".
  2. ↑ Jama Masjid gets new Shahi imam on 14 October 2000, The Milli Gazette newspaper, Published 1 November 2000, Retrieved 18 May 2017
  3. ↑ Syed Abdullah Bukhari, former Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi passes away The Hindu newspaper, Published 9 July 2009, Retrieved 18 May 2017
  4. 1 2 Anand, Utkarsh. "Warrant for Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, cops ordered to execute it". The Indian Express.
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