Hyderabad, Aug. 21: Andhra Pradesh has backtracked on Imams’ salary issue after religious leaders opposed the move saying that it will tantamount to interference by the state government.
Only the imams and other staff of the Mecca Masjid and the Royal Mosque in Public Gardens in Hyderabad receive salaries and perks from the state government. These two mosques are now controlled by the minorities welfare department. Earlier, they were under the jurisdiction of the endowments department.
The State Wakf Board controls a few dozen mosques in the State and the salaries of the staff are paid from out of the Wakf funds. But a majority of mosques in AP are independent and controlled by local mosque committees. Salaries for imams, muezzins and other staff are met from donations collected from local Muslims.
According to Khaliq Ahmed Saber, general secretary of Jamiat-ul-Ulema, AP unit, many imams are against taking salaries from the state government.