Muslim groups take exception to the way cleric was picked up

 Muslim organisations have decided to submit memoranda to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Governor Vajubhai Vala seeking “unbiased and impartial investigation” against Maulana Syed Anzarshah Qasmi, 50, the preacher from Bengaluru who was arrested by the Delhi police for his alleged links with al-Qaeda.

The organisations held a marathon meeting at the Haj Camp on Sunday and decided to call on Siddaramaiah and Vala. They also decided to support those who fight for Qasmi in court.

“We have decided to meet the chief minister and the governor shortly and submit memoranda, seeking unbiased and impartial investigation against Qasmi. We will not hire any lawyer ourselves but will support those fight for him in court,” Syed Shafiullah, a community leader, said after the meeting that lasted for about six hours.

The organisations expressed dismay over the efforts to project Qasmi as a terrorist much before the Delhi police proved the charges against him. They also took exception to the way he was arrested. “We don’t oppose his arrest as the Delhi police picked him up based on some information, but we oppose the nature of his arrest and the subsequent developments,” another leader said.

‘Terror cases fell in court’
He went on, “In the past, police have arrested many people across Karnataka based on some leads and jailed them. But they were hardly able to prove the charges. We have not come across any act by Qasmi which could encourage unlawful activities. He would deliver sermons for the welfare of the community.”

The leaders said Indian Muslims were always opposed to any form of terrorism and never encouraged or supported unlawful and anti-national activities.

They said charges against Qasmi were of serious nature and added they had faith in the country’s judiciary.

Over 50 community leaders belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Tableeghi Jamaat, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, Sunni Jamaat, Huda Muslim, Ahle Hadees and Shia Jamaat attended the meeting.