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NB - The self appointed leaders of ’the community’ seem to think that they have a right not to be offended; and a right to threaten anyone who ignores their sentiments. They enjoy democratic freedoms just like anyone else, but they do not have the right to intimidate those who disagree with them. They did this last year, and seem to think they can do it every time they choose. In my opinion the ban on Rushdie’s Satanic Verses should be lifted; Taslima Nasreen, author of Lajja, invited back to Kolkata. Anyone engaging in hooliganism should be dealt with under the law. The Deobandi ulema should learn to conduct themselves with restraint and cease activity that threatens the freedom of speech and expression. They should also realise that the maintenance of Indian democracy is in their best interest; that by engaging in the politics of intimidation in the guise of ’hurt sentiment’ they are contributing, along with Hindutva fanatics, to the growth of fascism in the entire sub-continent: Dilip
Home > Special Dossiers / Compilations > In Defence of Freedom of Expression, Public Space in / on South (...) > Deobandis back to baiting Rushdie at Jaipur Literature Festival
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Ahead of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Muslim groups today warned organisers against inviting authors who hurt religious sentiments of the community, including the four who had read out passages from Salman Rushdie’s banned Satanic Verses at the event last year.
"If any author, who has courted controversy by hurting the sentiments of the community, comes here to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival, we will oppose and they will have to face strong action," Mujahid Naqvi, a Muslim scholar, said today. "One of the four authors, Jeet Thayil, who read a passage from `Satanic Verses’ last year, is also scheduled to participate this year also and we oppose this. Other authors - Ruchir, Hari Kunzru and Amitava Kumar - read from the banned book which tantamount to legal action," he said.
This was decided at the ’Azeemusshan Azmat-E-Namoos-E-Rasool’ conference held here yesterday by Muslim groups of the state, and this is the feeling of the community, he said. Another scholar, Sajid Sehrai, who organised the conference, said the organisers of the literature festival should ensure that no author or speaker, who has hurt sentiments of the community, attends the event. The five-day literature festival will kick off from January 24.
Last year, the event had courted controversy over the scheduled visit of Rushdie, who had to cancel his visit following strong opposition from Muslim groups. However, four authors read out passages from the banned book in their sessions following which complaints against them were filed in separate courts by Muslim activists and they had to leave the city to avoid any legal action during the event. When contacted, Sanjay Roy, Producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival, said, “Everyone has right to express his feeling but we (the event) are not going to be hijacked.â€
See also: Communalism feeds on itself
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