While voicing strong opposition to terror in the name of religion, they also maintained that the “unprecedented” media coverage could also lead to a backlash against the Muslim community.
“The incident, and what has followed, have affected the psyche of every Muslim. Islam doesn’t advocate terrorism in any form and we have condemned the act too, but some caution should be exercised before passing verdicts, even before the final report is out. Media is virtually running a trial on its own,” Mirza Mohd Mehdi, president, Indian Union Muslim League, Karnataka told Deccan Herald.
They also pointed out that even the British media was not giving the attack the importance that it has assumed in India.
They also contended that while a foiled terror attack in UK was hogging headlines in India, investigation into major attacks that led to casualties back home — including the Mumbai train blasts — remained inconclusive.
Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, retired Professor of Sociology, UAS, said the incident could lead to a situation wherein every Muslim is looked at with suspicion. “For the alleged involvement of a handful of Muslim boys, the whole community is facing the heat. Earlier, it was believed that only the poor and uneducated could be lured into terrorism. Both Kafeel and Sabeel are well educated. I think they were inspired by misinterpreted definitions of Islam.”
Dr Khan termed jehad as “a fight against ignorance, illiteracy, poverty or any other social evil”. He also called upon Muslim leaders to come out and condemn the terror plot. “Their silence may send wrong signals,” he said.
Roots in the West
Mehdi acknowledged the presence of radical Muslim groups in the State, but traced the origin of the groups to a Western propaganda aimed at tarnishing Islam.
“The question of one community being targeted over the incident is illogical. Every community has its own share of anti-social elements,” Khalid Ahmed, Chairman, State Wakf Board, told Deccan Herald. Ahmed, while maintaining that every act of terrorism needs to be condemned, also cautioned against a verdict being passed before trial.
“The terror links, if proved true, have to be condemned. But let’s also wait for the final report from the investigating teams,” he said.
Ayub Khan, an advocate and editor of Josh Umang, blamed the “intervention” of people with a bent towards extremism for diverting young, educated minds into terrorism. “It’s sad that youngsters divert from their education, ambitions and their parents’ hopes and come under the influence of extremist ideologies,” he said.