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Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy
Press Statement
IMSD condemns in strongest terms the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur by 2 Muslim fanatics, who have openly declared that they did so for the love of the prophet & thus is a case of death for Blasphemy!
A tailor by profession, Kanhaiya’s only ‘crime’ was that he put up an online post in support of Nupur Sharma. India is a country governed by its constitution which means that its citizens are obligated to follow the rule of law. We cannot have any sympathy for those extremist Muslims who espouse the ideals of the Taliban or ISIS, or those extremist Hindus who want to turn this country into a fascist Hindu Rashtra.
Some years back, we had a similar attack on a migrant Muslim worker, who was hacked to death on camera by Shambhulal Raigar. While there were online petitions supporting Raigar, it is heartening to note that all Muslim organizations have condemned the killing of Kanhaiya in unequivocal terms.
IMSD reiterates its stand that there is no place for such an extremist mindset in India and that the culprits be handed the strictest possible punishment.
We would also like to underline the fact we are disturbed by the proclivity of certain Muslim organizations who are demanding and campaigning for blasphemy laws, which is a very regressive demand. Blasphemy laws are unacceptable in a secular liberal constitutional democracy, and IMSD strongly opposes this demand by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other conservative Muslim organizations.
We advise those who speak on behalf of Muslim issues to desist from making emotional, bigoted, intolerant and fanatical appeals in the name of religion. As citizens of this country, the Muslim cause is best served through appeals to the constitutional ethos rather than some pan-Islamic rallying together in the name of saving the honor of the prophet.
We also need to understand that incidents like Udaipur also send a chilling message to dissenters within the Muslim community. The case of Saad Ansari, a young 19 year old educated boy from Bhiwandi (Maharashtra), who spoke his mind on the issue of blasphemy is a further case in point. The local Muslim community hounded him no end, even physically attacked him but we saw no condemnation from any Muslim organization or individual. Saad was made to apologise & read the Kalma again by the 150 strong mob. For his son’s safety, his father has had to send Saad away to study. If a young Muslim boy is fettered and not allowed to speak his mind, then it is a telling statement on the depths of intolerance that we Muslims have descended to. While we rightly agitate for Zubair, the AltNews co-founder being hounded by the state, we are equally concerned about our regressive attitude which sent the young Saad away from his family. The police have registered cases both against Saad and the violent mob.
The IMSD appeals to all Muslims not to fall for the rightwing-Islamist rhetoric. Indian Muslims have been an exception to the worldwide Islamist movement, by shunning violence and reposing their faith in the constitution. It is with this faith in the foundation of our republic that Indian Muslims have categorically condemned the ISIS-style beheading of Kanhaiya in Udaipur. We hope that the same ethos also makes them withdraw cases against Saad Ansari.
In these difficult times, it’s essential that the Indian Muslim community seriously and honestly introspect on the intolerance & bigotry within the community and arrive at ways to combat such cases of violent fanaticism.
It is imperative that we as Indians unite to resist and defeat all forms of religious extremism, hatred & violence and work towards creating a peaceful harmonious society, not one built on mere tolerance, but on mutual respect and acceptance of each others faiths, religions and cultures.
Signatories:
- Javed Anand, National Convener, IMSD
- Feroze Mithiborwala, National Co-Convener, IMSD
- (9029277751)
- Anand Patwardhan, World-renowned Documentary Filmmaker
- Tushar Gandhi, Author, Human Rights Defender
- Arshad Alam, Writer
- Anjum Rajabali, Film script writer
- Adv. A W Jawwad
- Adv. Lara Jesani
- Amir Rizvi, Creative artist
- Muniza Khan, Researcher
- Com. Preeti Shekhar, Social Activist
- M A Khalid, Social Activist
- Khadija Farouqui, Social Activist
- Arif Kapadia, Social Activist
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II
Barbaric and Brutal Beheading in Udaipur: Strong Condemnation by Civil Society, Faith Leaders, Academics, Journalists and Artists
We, the undersigned from diverse sections of society collective and unequivocally condemn in strongest terms the barbaric and brutal beheading of a person in Udaipur, India, for a social media post defending an obnoxious and reprehensible statement against Prophet Mohammed during a TV discussion recently.
That it is done in the name of religion makes it even more condemnable. No religion, including Islam, allows individuals to take law into their hands and a due process of law is mandated by all faiths before any person is held guilty and punished.
We understand that the killers are arrested and demand that a special court should be constituted for a speedy trial and given the most stringent punishment possible that could be an example for others.
We also urge upon the government of Rajasthan to be sure that no violence takes place and life and property of all citizens, especially the poor, is fully protected.
The Government of Rajasthan should also provide solace and all possible support to the family of the victim. Thorough investigation as to the involvement of groups/agencies, if any, should be the priority
We call upon and urge people of Rajasthan and across the country to ensure peace in their neighborhoods and protect the vulnerable from any untoward incidences that might occur.
The level of toxic hate, calls to violence and actual incidences of violence are on the rise for some years now and taking an epidemic form.
Social media has become the major platform for propagation of unbridled hate and calls for violence against whole communities that are not only totally illegal but have full potential to unleash communal violence across the country that could put our neighborhoods on fire and irrevocably damage the nation itself.
Given such a critical situation that has emerged in the country, the Government of India should immediately act to stop hate mongering by all sections in all forms. It should take unbiased and stringent action against any individual, group or section making provocative statements or issuing calls to violence or indulging in acts of violence.
The Government of India should take all possible measures immediately to ensure the social media platforms cannot be used to spread misinformation and hate.
Finally, the Government of India and the State Governments should ensure that unbiased and appropriate actions are immediately initiated against all without any communal or sectarian consideration that alone can ensure that all fear the law and follow it.
It is to be understood that breaking of law by any sections without fear of legal action not only emboldens them to engage in more violations but could also result in resentment among other communities inciting them to take to violence that can degenerate into a vortex of devastation that can cause irrevocable damage to our country as a whole.
Endorsed by:
- Mazher Hussain, COVA Peace Network, Hyderabad
- Admiral L. Ramdas, former Chief of Indian Navy
- Shabana Azmi
- Ramachandra Guha, Writer, Bangaluru
- P. Sainath, Journalist,
- Dr. Syeda Hameed, former Member, Planning Commission of India
- Air Vice Marshal (retd) Kapil Kak
- Kamal Faruqui, former Chairman, Minority Commission Delhi
- Aruna Roy, MISS
- Madhuri Bhaduri, Ambassador of India, Retd.
- Major General Sudhir Vombatkere (Retd)
- Lalita Ramdas, Former Chair, Greenpeace International
- Maulana Aajazur Rahman Shaheen Qasmi, World Peace Organisation,New Delhi
- Basavaraj Patil, National Convener, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan
- Goswami Sushil Maharaj, National Convener, Indian Parliament of All Religions.
- Mallika Sarabhai
- T. M. Krishna
- Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor, Kashmir Times
- P. V. Rajagopal, Ekta Parishad
- Maulana Firoz Akhtar Qasmi, Markazi Jamiat ulema, Delhi,
- Mufti Nadir Qasmi
- Fiqah Academy of India
- John Dayal, Writer and Activist, New Delhi
- Anil Nauriya, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
- Pamela Philipose, Journalist, New Delhi
- Suresh K. Goel, former Secretary General ICCR and former Secretary MEA
- Lalit Mathur, former Director General, NIRD
- Sandeep Panday, Socialist Party of India
- Faisal Khan, NAPM, New Delhi
- Tapan Bose, South Asia Forum for Human Rights
- Rita Manchanda, SAFHR
- Bijoy Patro, One World South Asia
- Dr. Zafar ul Islam Khan, Milli Gazette and former Chairman, Minorities Commission, Delhi
- Vinod C khanna, IFS Retd
- B. B. Mahajan, IAS retd, Chandigarh
- Navaid Hamed, President, Mushawarat, New Delhi
- G. N. Rajashekara Naidu, Karnataka People’s Forum for Land Rights
- A. Selvaraj, (IRS- Retd) Constitution Conduct Group, Chennai
- Chandigar
- Gurjit Singh Cheema, IAS Retd. and Writer, Chandigarh
- Pradeep K. Deb IAS(Retd), Former Secretary to Govt.of India, Jaipur
- Sunder Burra, Retd Civil Servant,
- Ammu Joseph, Author and Journalist, Bangaluru
- Nilofer Bhagwat
- Achin Vanaik, Academic, New Delhi
- S. G. Vasudev, Artist
- R. Chandrashaker, Mumbai,
- Vickram Crishna, Human Rights Activist
- Dr. Veena Shatrugna
- Medical Scientist (Rtd), Bengaluru,
- Nitya Jayaram, Writer, Activist- Chennai
- Dr. Usha Naik,
- Radha Gopalan
- Laxmi Murthy Journalist, Bangaluru
- Sardar Sajjan Singh, Member, SGPC
- Asha Ramesh, Activist, Bangaluru
- Sudha Reddy, Activist, Bangaluru
- Jaya iyer, Metta Narratives, Gandhi Nagar
- Siddhartha Peepal Tree, Bangaluri
- Shaik Salauddin, Social Activist, Hyderabad
- Geeta Sheshu
- Sameera Khan, Mumbai
- Prof. Mohan Rao, Bangaluru
- Priyanka Singh, Delhi
- V. Vasantha Lakshmi, Human Rights Forum, Sarah Mathews, Activist, Hyderabad
- Meena Menon, Activist, Mumbai,
- Inamul Hasan, Khudai Khidmatgar, Chennai
- Margaret, Peace Activist, Bangaluru
- Shakeel Sultan, Concerned Citizen, Hyderabad
- K. Sudha, Human Rights Forum, Vishakapatnam
- Parampath Joy Oommen, Bangalore, Constitutional Conduct Group.
- Anil k. Singh, New Delhi
- Geeta Menon, Stree Jagruti Samiti and Domestic Workers Rights Union...
- Ravi Nitesh, Peace Activist, New Delhi
- Brijesh, Positive Thinkers
- Vivek Sundara
- Meena Gupta
- Deb Mukharji Member CCG
- R. Chandra Shaker, Mumbai
- Prof Rama Melkote, Hyderabad
- Varghese Theckanath s,g,
- S, Jeevan Kumar, Human Rights Activist, Hyderabad
- K. Sajaya, Women and Trans Gender Organisations JAC
- Kripal Singh Mandloi ,Khudai Khidmatgar Neemuch
