This semester started off with a lot of changes in the LUMS ecosystem. From a playgroup-esque makeover of SDSB costing an embarrassingly exorbitant amount to the controversial fountain in the Central Courtyard, the students were met with a lot of change. One thing that hit some students very hard was the absence of the prayer “chataai” in the Academic block towards the Library side. Students who had most of their classes in the Academic Block and were used to praying in the breaks between these classes were shocked at this removal.
In typical LUMS fashion, the students mobilized on LDF and relayed their concerns to the Student Council which led to a back and forth with Adnan Khan. Adnan Khan advised students to utilize the Masjid near SDSB but students rightfully so argued that every other academic building including the Law School and SDSB have Chataais in them. Therefore, the students of Humanities subjects should be awarded the same comforts of not having to brave the blistering sun during their already too short breaks to go to the Masjid.
“I have always tried to keep up with my prayers but this is becoming increasingly difficult with the administration’s policies.”
-Mustafa Asad
The second line of defense that the administration took was that prayer mats are exclusionary of the religious minorities in LUMS. Since occupying space dictates power in society, the presence of prayer mats in the Academic block privileges Muslims unfairly over other denominations. However, the students are not asking for prayer mats at the expense of religious minorities. There was recently a call for the establishment of a religious room by Amar Ramnani, where other groups could pray freely. However, the administration argued that there were not enough minority students on campus to devote this space to.
Therefore, this argument of power equals space equals minority discrimination ironically turns out to be a double edged sword.
Muslim students on campus are not against minorities having religious rights, they simply want to be able to pray in the Academic block as other students are in their respective schools.
As far as finding a space for religious minorities goes, the masjid sits empty most of the day. The e-lab has been converted into additional offices for “further studies?” Whatever that means.
However, hope springs eternal and some students have placed their own prayer mats on the Library side entrance which people can use and fold back.
One has to ask themselves, what is the administration trying to achieve with this policy? When will the administration actually be ready for a compromise? The Student Council takes our concerns forward only to be met with disappointment. Does the administration truly believe in religious freedom or is this a power play with the student body or an aesthetic project that LUMS currently is obsessed with. A religiously tolerant campus does not mean the elimination of majority spaces simply because it caters to the majority. Instead, LUMS should facilitate the students who want to be able to pray, be it prostrating on a prayer mat or otherwise.