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.
