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Unfortunate we couldn't kill Taslima, says Majlis

Unfortunate we couldn't kill Taslima, says Majlis

Author: Omer Farooq
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: August 11, 2007

MIM brazenly justifies violence: We're proud of assault on author

Akbaruddin Owaisi, the floor leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in the Andhra Assembly on Friday said, "It is legitimate to kill Taslima Nasreen under Islamic law, but unfortunately we could not do it". He was reacting to Thursday's attack on Bangladeshi writer Taslima by Majlis men and MLAs.

MIM president and former Member of Parliament Salahuddin Owaisi lauded his party legislators and workers for targeting Taslima stating that she had insulted Islam and Muslims all over the world and she was still continuing her mission enjoying the hospitality of the Left Government in West Bengal.

"We have used our democratic right to protest against those who are misusing the freedom of expression to insult and hurt Muslim sentiments," he said.

Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), the rival of MIM, went to the extent of saying that originally it was their plan to implement the fatwa of death issued against Taslima but the MIM sabotaged it. Instead of killing her, the MIM workers only saved her by creating a nuisance there. MBT leader Farhatullah Khan said that he was ready to undergo punishment as per the country's law by killing a person who had committed blasphemy against the Prophet.

The fatwas issued to kill Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen should be implemented, he added.

The attack on Taslima seems to have triggered a war of one-upmanship among various Muslim organisations, which are trying to surpass the other in taking extreme postures.

While the MIM has patted itself for its success in forcing Taslima to flee the function, its rival groups within the community have criticised it for allowing Taslima to go back alive.

On the other hand, there have been some feeble voices in condemnation of the incident. Organisations like Muslim Writers Forum and the Muslim Social Forum have issued statements condemning the incident and called it an uncivilised act.

Moulana Hameeduddin Aauqil Hussami and Moulana Abdul Raheem Qureshi, the leaders of Muslim United Front also justified the protest and said that after the way she had shown disrespect for the Prophet of Islam in her writings, the protest against her was justified.

Even Urdu newspapers have taken a similar stand. At least two major dailies, which are traditionally against MIM, said that the attack was half-hearted and a drama. While daily Musif ridiculed the attack saying instead of being targeted Taslima was showered with flowers during the incident. Siasat daily said she was attacked with 'bouquets'. Was it an attempt to implement the Shariah or only a political gimmick, it asked.

Meanwhile, journalists in Hyderabad continued their protest against the attack by MIM activists on Taslima. They held a dharna at Basheerbagh demanding action against those involved in the attack including three legislators. They were unhappy that a simple case of trespass, creating trouble and causing nuisance were booked against the assailants and they were released on bail by the court.

Andhra Information Minister A Ramnarayan Reddy visited the Press Club at Somajiguda and saw the damage, including the ransacked furniture and broken door, caused by the intruders during the book release function. He assured the club office-bearers that the Government will take effective measure to ensure that such incidents do not recur. He also said that the Government will see to it that those responsible for the attack are punished severely.

State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya, while condemning the attack on Taslima demanded that an attempt to murder case under section 307 should be registered against Akbaruddin Owaisi for his comments against Taslima. He wondered how a legislator can openly issue a threat to kill a person. He also wanted stringent action against the three other legislators of MIM, Afsar Khan, Moazzam Khan and Ahmad Pasha Quadri for their involvement in the attack.

Prof N Innaiah, the organiser of the function, described the attack on Taslima as a barbaric act. Innaiah, who received injuries while trying to save her, said that if Majlis had a difference of opinion with her, they could have expressed it in a peaceful and democratic way instead of resorting to violent attack.

V Komla, who translated Taslima's book Shodh in Telugu, said that the Bangladeshi writer through her writings was fighting for gender equality. It was beneath the dignity of the legislators to indulge in such act, Komla said. She hoped that such attack will not deter Taslima and she will continue to fight with her pen.


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