Tag: al-qaeda

New Delhi: A large section of Muslims in the country feel that the global terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) won’t be able to influence Indian Muslim youth with its ideology to unleash attacks on Indian soil like it did in Paris. However, they also feel that the Indian government needs to rein in the rogue elements responsible for creating an atmosphere of intolerance in the country.

“Despite an atmosphere of growing intolerance in India and certain trust deficit amongst minorities, Muslim youths won’t fall into the tarp of IS, al Qaeda or Dawaish. The ideology of al-Qaeda, IS and other terrorist outfits is against Islam, which abhors all kinds of inhuman acts. The IS terrorists were created and sponsored by Zionist state and its western allies to disturb the geographical boundaries of Muslim nations. We strongly condemn the heinous terror attack on innocent citizens in Paris and demand sincere efforts to eliminate the menace,” said Zafrul Islam Khan, president All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat, an umbrella organisation of Muslim bodies, on Monday.

Representative image. AFP

He added that the matter of Indian Muslim youth joining the IS was highly exaggerated and there was no real evidence or figure to corroborate the claim. “It’s the Indian intelligence agencies who are telling big lies, and as a result a large number innocent Muslim youth have been selectively targeted and incarcerated for no fault of theirs. No crime has been proved against them. There should be some independent source or evidence to corroborate such claims. Moreover, the politics of hatred and polarising the voters on the basis of religion need to be stopped,” Khan said.

Coming out strongly against growing Islamic terrorism across the globe and create awareness amongst Indian Muslims as a counter-measure, the Delhi-based Shiite religious organisation, Anjuman-e-Haideri (AEH), has decided to observe 3 December as Anti-Terrorism Day, and the initiative has received support from other Muslim and non-Muslim bodies.

Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, general secretary of AEH said, “On the occasion of Chehlum – the 40th day of martyrdom of Imam Husain – the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, a resolution will be passed in the presence of religious leaders from Shia and Sunni community and other religions as well against the terror activities of the IS and other terrorist outfits. We’ve planned to create mass awareness through public and social media campaign, demonstration, seminars, street plays etc against IS and expose their real face and motives. The aim is to protect vulnerable minds from getting poisoned.”

However, Naqvi said the AEH was unaware why the government didn’t allow them to proceed with their anti-terrorism movement.
“We were the first in India to openly come out by opposing the IS activities in Iraq and Syria, and we conducted a signature campaign, whereby more than two lakh people voluntarily joined our movement. Terrorism can’t be countered with bullets alone; there is a need to educate people about the menace of terrorism. The Iraqi Prime Minister Noori al-Maliki appreciated our efforts; but despite that Indian government didn’t allow us to proceed. It seems there are a few people within the government, who do not want that any action should be initiated against the IS,” claimed Naqvi.

In November last year, Maulana Kalbe Jawad, a prominent Shia cleric and general secretary of Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Hind, along with five other members, was prevented from taking flight to Baghdad after a Look-out Circular was issued against him. He was going to Baghdad to have a discussion for the release of 40 Sikhs held captive by the IS.

Senior counsel Mehmood Pracha, also a part of the AEH campaign, said, “Maulana Jawad was on a humanitarian mission, when he was off-loaded. This action of the government of preventing us to go ahead with our peaceful anti-terrorism campaign, would positively make it difficult for us. As, the world has become a global village, especially due to the social media, and boundaries are getting erased, it can’t be said that Indian youth will remain untouched from the influence of IS.

“And, that’s why we want a massive campaign to make Indian Muslim youth aware of the evil motive of these terror outfits. We don’t support any Muslim organisation, body or political outfit that supports terrorism. Despite knowing that our movement will have repercussions on our volunteers as their lives are at risk, we would observe 3 December as anti-terrorism day and work towards uprooting terrorism.”