Greater Noida: Residents object to outsiders offering namaz in society premises

On March 27, Noida Police removed a makeshift “mosque” from Supertech Ecovillage-2 society located in Greater Noida West after residents objected to alleged outsiders coming for Namaz during Ramzan. As per reports, the residents of the society objected to the makeshift mosque for security reasons, as outsiders were allegedly coming to offer prayers. The setup was done in the open area by the maintenance company without the permission of the residents.

UP : नोएडा की सुपरटेक ईको विलेज-2 सोसाइटी में सामूहिक नमाज पढ़ने पर हंगामा।

पुलिस ने कहा- सोसाइटी के मुस्लिम लोगों द्वारा नमाज पढ़ने से रेजिडेंट्स को आपत्ति नहीं है। बल्कि वे चाहते हैं कि कोई मुस्लिम दूसरी सोसाइटी से यहां आकर नमाज न पढ़े।

फिलहाल सामूहिक नमाज बंद की गई। pic.twitter.com/F71K2ExJV7

— Sachin Gupta (@sachingupta787) March 28, 2023

Bisrakh Police Station in-charge Anil Rajput said in a statement that a complaint was made via phone about the scuffle between the residents of two communities at the society. The police reached the spot and got the makeshift mosque removed.

सार्वजनिक स्थानों पर नमाज़ पढ़ने का वीडियो वायरल, ईको विलेज 2 की सोसायटी का वीडियो, मामला गरमाते देख पुलिस ने सुलझाया #NCRKhabar @noidapolice @CP_Noida pic.twitter.com/WKLhKsoZ3S

— NCRKHABAR (@NCRKHABAR) March 28, 2023

An unnamed resident was quoted by News18 as saying that when residents noticed people offering namaz regularly in the society, they inquired if they were residents. When it was revealed they were non-residents, the residents got worried. The society does not have security gates installed either.

Cries of Islamophobia and misinformation on social media

After the incident, several Twitter users shared misleading information and called it “Islamophobia”. Notably, the residents said they did not object to Muslims offering namaz but objected to the outsiders coming in to offer namaz. Maktoob Media’s journalist Meer Faisal shared a misleading tweet about the incident and wrote, “Members of a housing society in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, raised a commotion after it was discovered that some Muslims were praying in the building’s basement. Police have solved the majority community problem by taking down the tent that was built for prayer.” He skipped the information that outsiders were coming to offer prayers.

Members of a housing society in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, raised a commotion after it was discovered that some Muslims were praying in the building's basement. Police have solved the majority community problem by taking down the tent that was built for prayer. pic.twitter.com/gmlgqvw0Df

— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) March 27, 2023

Source: OpIndia