Jan. - March 2006 
Year 12    No.114

Cover Story


Muslim fatwa against terrorism

 
Varanasi blasts condemned, prayers for victims

March 7, 2006, MUMBAI:
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) today condemned bomb blasts in Varanasi and asked the govern-
ment to strengthen security and bring the culprits to book. GM Banatwala, the IUML president, said in a statement here that the "political designs" behind these blasts and other recent incidents of violence in Uttar Pradesh "must be defeated". "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives," he said.

(Courtesy: PTI.)

March 8, 2006, NEW DELHI:
Muslim groups today strongly condemned the bomb blasts in the temple town of Varanasi, calling for
severe punishment of the guilty and appealing to the people to maintain calm and harmony in the wake of the terror attack.

Expressing anguish over the incident, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind demanded a thorough inquiry by the authorities.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind assistant secretary NK Afandi said in a statement he hoped the issue would not be made an instrument of political scoring and appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony. The All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques said the blasts were clearly aimed at disturbing the atmosphere of amity in the country but asserted that the country will not bow to the dangerous intentions of the terrorists. Vice chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Naseem Ahmad termed the incident a "senseless act of terrorism". "The perpetrators of such crimes are nobody’s friend. They should be identified and given exemplary punishment," he said.

(Courtesy: PTI.)

March 8, 2006, ALIGARH:
Aligarh Muslim University vice chancellor, Naseem Ahmad today condemned the twin blasts in the temple town of Varanasi saying that it was a "senseless" act of terrorism.

Expressing his condolences, Ahmad said, "perpetrators of such acts are nobody’s friend and (should) be given exemplary punishment." The AMU Teachers Association also condemned the blasts calling the attack an assault on humanity.

(Courtesy: PTI.)

March 9, 2006, LUCKNOW:
Varanasi has shown remarkable resilience in the aftermath of the bomb attacks. But the coming together of
people of different faiths to condemn the attack has shown the real face of humanity across the country. Thousands gathered at the holy shrine of Hazrat Abbas in Lucknow with feelings of sadness and anger at the attack on the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi.

"The Koran says some people are like animals but some are worse. We think that anyone who does this is worse than an animal," said Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, Muslim religious leader.
These believers are not idol worshippers, they strongly believe in the tenets of their religion. But they were born in a place where with every mosque there was always a temple just around the corner. "These terror attacks resolve nothing. The only ones to benefit are the communal forces who want to disturb the peace," added Maulana Jawwad.
The meeting ended with each one saying a prayer for those who died in the terror attack in Varanasi. However deep the wound, there is hope that the prayers offered at this Lucknow mosque will bring some solace to those far away.

(Courtesy: ndtv.com)

March 9, 2006, NEW DELHI:
The Muslim community has with one voice condemned Tuesday’s blasts in Varanasi and called for communal
peace in the face of any attempt to disturb the public order.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind said: "Any violence especially in a place of worship is most condemnable. We demand that the law enforcement agencies deploy every possible means to provide immediate relief and security to the affected people and also take full precautionary measures to maintain peace and public order. We appeal to all peace-loving citizens to exercise restraint and maintain peace and unity."

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, at its executive meeting in Bangalore, condemned the attack and said the guilty should be brought to book. It also noted that some political parties were trying to spread communal tension with an eye on the coming assembly polls, said SQR Ilyas of the personal law board.

(Courtesy: The Hindu.)

March 9, 2006, MUMBAI:
Several Muslim organisations in the city today condemned the serial blasts at Varanasi that claimed 20 lives and left several others injured.

The All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) said "We strongly condemn this inhuman dastardly act. Those who are involved in this act of terrorism cannot be called Muslims nor human beings if any Muslim is responsible for this blast."

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family members of the victims and express our sympathy to those who are injured," AISPLB’s president, Sayed Mohammed Nawab said in a statement.

Another organisation, Right Path of Islam Association (RPIA), held a meeting in this regard and asked all Muslims to condemn the ‘ghastly act’ of terrorism. General secretary of RPIA, Syed Javed Zaidi said the association expressed deep sorrow and sympathy with the families who have lost their dear ones. The organisation Movement for Peace and Justice said those responsible for the terror attack should be brought to justice. "The terrorists trying to disrupt the unity of the country should be punished," its spokesperson Mohammed Anees said. Condemning the `barbaric and inhuman act’, Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra president, Asad Madni also appealed to the government to punish the guilty.

(Courtesy: newkerala.com)

March 9, 2006, SRINAGAR:
Separatist leaders, including both factions of the Hurriyat Conference and JKLF, today condemned the
twin blasts at the temple town of Varanasi saying that violence against the innocent was "inhuman". Calling the blasts in Varanasi last evening "inhuman", the hard line Hurriyat Conference leader, Mr Syed Ali Ahah Geelani told reporters: "We condemn the attacks on innocent and unarmed people. Such acts should be abhorred by all. Islam does not allow attacks on unarmed people," he said.

Strongly condemning the blasts, the chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said: "We must look at the intentions of the people who carry out such attacks and try to foil their nefarious designs." JKLF vice chairman, Mr Bashir Ahmad Bhat said that his organisation always condemned attacks against civilians. Expressing grief over the loss of life in the blasts, Democratic Freedom Party leader, Mr Shabir Ahmad Shah appealed to all communities in the UP city to maintain calm and communal harmony.
"The people in Varanasi should hold their nerve in this hour of crisis and ensure that trouble-mongers do not succeed in their designs," he said. "Targeting religious places and public conveyances like trains and railway platforms shows the intent of those behind these attacks," Mr Shah said.

(Courtesy: The Statesman (PTI).)

March 11, 2006, HUBLI:
Muslim leaders belonging to the Congress and others burnt the effigy of terrorists here on Friday during a
demonstration to condemn the bomb blasts at Varanasi.

The protestors staged a demonstration in front of the Dr BR Ambedkar statue near the Head Post Office to condemn the blasts.

Addressing the protestors, Anwar Mudhol urged the union government to take preventive measures to contain terrorist activities.

He also urged the state government to take steps to prevent terrorist attacks.


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