HC adjourns case against Taslima Nasreen

Chennai, Mar 8 (UNI) Madras High Court today adjourned to next week the hearing on a petition seeking to register a case against controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen for her alleged defamatory and blasphemous statements on Islam.

When the petition filed by Tamil Nadu Muslim Makkal Katchi President S M Pasha came for hearing before Justice K N Basha, Additional Public Prosecutor Kumaresan sought time for getting instructions from the Commissioner of Police, Chennai.

Following this, the judge adjourned the hearing by a week.

In his petition, Mr Pasha referred to an article titled 'Let's Burn the Burqa' written by Ms Nasreen and published by a magazine dated January 22, 2007.

In her article, Ms Nasreen said women should not use purdah, hador, hijab, burqa or headscarf as they were instruments of disrespect.

'These are the symbols of women's oppression,' she had claimed.

The petitioner said this call was against Allah's command and the preaching of the Holy Prophet.

Her statement not only degraded Prophet Mohammed but also the whole religious belief of Islam. This statement was an instigation to act against Islamic customs and beliefs, he claimed.

The petitioner claimed Ms Nasrin, the editor, publisher and printer of the magazine had committed offences under section 153-B, 295-A and 505 (2) of the IPC.

Hence he gave a complaint on February 1, 2007 to the Commissioner of Police for taking action against them. But so far, no action was taken. Hence, the present petition, he added.

UNI