Saeed, LeT working against Islam, must be punished under law:Indian Muslim body

New Delhi, Apr.8 (ANI): Criticising the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its parent body, the Markaz Dawa al-Irshad, for working against the teachings of Islam, Indian Muslim scholars have advocated severe punishment for the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), which is considered to be the LeT's front face, chief Hafeez Muhammad Saeed.

"We believe Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the LeT chief, is a khawarij (rebel) and needs to be punished under the law," secretary general of the Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salfi, said.

The Ahl-e-Hadees sect is often criticised for sharing its ideology with the LeT or Dawa-al-Irshad, which is headed by Saeed.

Clarifying his sect's stance, Maulana Salfi said both Saeed and the Taliban were part of an international conspiracy against Islam.

Maulana Salfi said Islam does not endorse extremism, and said bomb blasts and suicide attacks were forbidden in Islam.

"There was no justification whatsoever for such acts of terrorism and wanton killings," The Daily Times quoted Maulana Salfi, as saying.

"A majority of Ahl-e-Hadees followers in Pakistan are also up in arms against Saeed for taking over their mosques and other establishments," he added. (ANI)