Muslim clergy denounces terror-mongers

Lucknow, May 22 : In a significant development, the Muslim clergy has decided to use mosques to convey a message that no sympathy should be shown for terrorists spoiling the image of the community and targeting communal harmony.

The clergy has decided to use mosques for spreading the message that terrorists must not be shown any respect.

The decision has come up at the initiative of 'Movement Against Terrorism' (MAT), an organisation comprising Muslim religious scholars, to create awareness among Muslims against getting misguided by terror activities.

The decision has come in the wake of Jaipur serial blasts that left 68 people as dead and over 200 injured.

The decision has come on the heels of a meeting of leading Muslim ulemas at Deoband where a resolution denouncing terrorism was adopted.

Besides, an appeal was made to the entire Muslim community to actively play a role against terror.

During an All India Anti-Terrorism Conference organized by Rabta Madaris Islamiah (Islamic Madrasas Association) on February 25, 2008, a resolution condemning terrorism stated: "This All India Anti-Terrorism Conference attended by the representatives of all Muslim schools of thought organised by Rabta Madaris Islamiah Arabia (Islamic Madrasas Association), Darul Uloom Deoband condemns all kinds of violence and terrorism in the strongest possible terms."

"The Conference expresses its deep concern and agony on the present global and national alarming conditions in which most of the nations are adopting such an attitude against their citizens especially Muslims to appease the tyrant and colonial master of the West, which cannot be justified in any way. It is a matter of greater concern that the internal and external policies of our country are getting heavily influenced by these forces."

" Their aggression, barbarism and state-sponsored terrorism not only in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan but also in Bosnia and various South American countries have surpassed all the records known to human history. Contrary to it, our great nation has always been known for impartiality and its moral and spiritual values."

"Now, the situation has worsened so far that every Indian Muslim especially those associated with madrasas, who are innocent with good record of characters, are always gripped by the fear that they might be trapped by the administrative machinery anytime. And, today countless number of innocent Muslims are spending their lives behind the bars and are forced to bear many intolerable tortures. And, those spreading terror, attacking police stations, killing the police in broad daylight and showing illegal arms are roaming about freely with no effective and preventive steps being taken by the government to check their acts of terrorism and violence."

This partial attitude has put a big question mark on the secular character of the government posing great threats to the country. Therefore, this All India Anti-Terrorism Conference strongly condemns this attitude and expresses its deep concern on this partiality of government officials and declares its continuous joint struggles for domination of law, justice and secular system.

"This conference strongly demands the Indian Government to curb those maligning the madrasas and Muslims. The administrative machinery should be demanded to conduct impartial investigations in activities disturbing public peace in the country and to punish only those found guilty."

It also demands to free the accused if he is found innocent and punish severely those officials who accused him of crimes of terrorism. No person of any particular community should be suspected without solid reasons. In short, the government agencies must fulfill their duty justly without any prejudice and bias so that real peace and security may prevail in the country.

The imams (priests) of the mosques, in their speech after Friday prayers, told people to be wary of the designs of the terrorists and not to show any respect to them," convenor of MAT and senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahali told Deccan Herald.

Deoband is a town in Uttar Pradesh, a hundred miles north of Delhi where a 'madarasa' (religious school) was established in 1867. The so-called 'Deobandi Tradition' itself is much ancient than the eponymous Dar-Ul-Ulum at Deoband. The Deoband madarasa brought together Muslims who were hostile to British rule and committed to a literal and austere interpretation of Islam.

The Deoband School from the initial period has sought to purify Islam by discarding un-Islamic growth to the faith. It tried to re-emphasise the models established in the Koran and the customary practices of the Prophet Mohammed. Deobandi are also opposed to the customary practices perceived through Western influences.

The fundamentalist Deoband Dar-ul-Uloom brand of Islam inspired the Taliban movement. Most of the Taliban leadership attended Deobandi-influenced seminaries in Pakistan.

ANI