Hyderabad: In a unique way to curb the wedding celebration in the Old City in Hyderabad, involving fireworks and hired female dancers, South Zone police secured a fatwa (religious opinion) from well-known Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamia on the issue.

According to a report published in Times of India, the police was having a tough time to implement a complete ban on ‘orchestras’ and a fixed timing of the functions as mentioned on the wedding invitation cards.

The Times of India quotes noted Islamic scholar Mufti Mohammed Azeemuddin from the Jamia’s Darul Ifta (or the fatwa centre), as writing that “A ban on singing, music and orchestra performances at weddings by the police department is not akin to interfering in Islamic sharia law. The police department can enforce this ban.”

Apart from curbing a rising trend of hiring female dancers and lighting fireworks, cops had requested the Islamic point of view on weddings and other celebrations which continue till late at night and the repeated delays in “serving dinner”.

South Zone deputy commissioner of police V Satyanarayana told TOI that late night weddings and other celebrations have become a law and order problem for the police in the Old City since not only does the loud music disturb the neighbourhood, the functions also have become a hotspot for criminal acts.

“There were two stabbing cases, of which one resulted in a death. Further, there have been instances in which people were seen dancing with swords. We have also seen that parties with hired women dancers are on the rise. The Jamia Nizamia, in the fatwa, said that inconveniencing people by loud celebrations late at night is wrong. They have also said that the celebrations should not go beyond 12 am or 1 am. It is likely that a meeting will be held on Saturday.”