Letters

I have learnt with concern about the decision of the Indian Muslim Council, not to allow the burial of the nine killed Mumbai attackers, on an Islamic graveyard. As a reason, the Council declares, that the attackers cannot be considered Muslims because they went against the teachings of Islam.

Another Council-member said that the attackers had defamed the religion.

Of course I agree that the Mumbai attacks are contrary to the teachings of Islam. However, viewed from a religious perspective, the decision of the Council is also a defamation of the teachings of the Islam which is based on respect for every human being, regardless of descent or committed crime.

The denial of a grave is not only one of the most extreme signs of disrespect, it is also a violation of the right of every human being on human dignity, confirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is evident, that the killed Mumbai attackers are guilty of very serious crimes, for which they would be held accountable on earth, in a fair and independent trial, according to international standards. However, now they are dead, no Council or other authority has the right to deny them eternal peace on a graveyard.

Before I began to read the article, “Manual for Social Harmony for Muslims,” in the December 2008 issue of Islamic Voice, I found the writer’s name was a bit familiar. I am reading Islamic Voice for the first time. After reading this article, I have decided not to pick up Islamic Voice again. Though there are some good suggestions, I felt that this article advises us to be slaves of the oppressors in the name of democracy. The writer’s comments on Azan and Qurbani show that he is ashamed and fearful to be a Muslim. (Sorry for the harsh words). What a disgusting and disheartening solution about Azan. If you want to guide the Muslim community, guide them through the Quran and Hadith and not from you own thoughts and beliefs.

What Mr A. R. Antulay said is being deliberately misinterpreted. He is being pilloried and pressured to resign. He did not absolve Pakistan nor deny that the terrorists were of Pakistani origin and that the attack was organized in and launched from Pakistan. What Antulay said does not in any way diminish our case on Pakistani responsibility for the terrorist attack.

No doubt he has brought out the doubts in the public mind about the circumstances of the killing of Hemant Karkare and his colleagues, which have arisen because of inconsistencies in the official and media reports.

Ever since Karkare had successfully unveiled the face of Hindutva terrorism, he was a target of abuse and vilification. Senior political leaders like Advani and Thakre had even called him a traitor. Obviously the Hindutva groups were rattled by the exposure. He was an obvious candidate for elimination.

What Antulay has hinted at, and which I endorse, is that there might have been a parallel conspiracy to silence Karkare and an elimination squad may have been following him. When they got an opportunity in the noise and dust generated by the terrorist attack, they killed him. In any case the suspicious circumstances must be looked into by high level inquiry and they should not be simply swept under the carpet. As Indians we owe this to Karkare.

“Mudukulathur Muslims-Today and Tomorrow”, a research project has been initiated by www.mud-ukulathur .com. Those who have any information about Mudukulathur can send it to muduvaihidayath @gmail.com or to M. Shanmu-gham, 33 Maranayanar Street, Ilayangudi-630702