ISLAMABAD, June 14: The chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology on Thursday said mosques built on occupied land were considered illegal in Islam and prayers offered there would not be accepted.

Commenting on the Lal Masjid issue, the CII head said the Council had sent its recommendations to the government about the status of such disputed mosques, especially the Lal Masjid and Hafsa seminary, but had not received any response so far.

Dr Khalid Masud was speaking at a press conference to brief reporters about the three-year performance of the Council.

He denied that the CII had been dormant, saying it did provide valuable suggestions to the government on important issues but most of them went unheeded. During the last three years, as many as 72 recommendations were sent to the government but only 17 received positive response, he said.

The Council has suggested to the government that amendments in all laws enacted from 1977 to 1990 be made consistent with the Quran and Sunnah. He deplored that the CII recommendations were not implemented and proposed to the government to form a committee comprising members of the National Assembly tasked to give practical shape to suggestions of the Council.

The Council’s suggestions on the Hasba Bill of the NWFP government, Women’s Protection Act and other issues were also ignored, he said. As opposed to this, during the Zia era the Council was given much importance and most of its recommendations were implemented.

He did not comment when a reporter suggested that ‘enlightened moderation’ was an attempt towards westernisation and vulgarity. The CII has nothing to do with ‘enlightened moderation’ because its opinion on this issue has not been sought so far, he said.

He, however, said Islam supported moderation in everything.

Answering another question, he said the Council was a constitutional body. It is independent, non-political and non-partisan. Its job is to provide suggestions to the government on specific issues when approached, he said.