Bhopal, September 15 (Pervez Bari): Prominent Indian Muslim leaders in a joint statement have strongly condemned the attacks on Christian properties and institutions in some places in Kashmir and in Maler Kotla in the Indian state of Punjab.
A joint statement issued in New Delhi on Tuesday said: “We disapprove disrespect to any religion or desecration of any sacred scripture or vilification of any religious personality or attack on any religious place, anywhere in the world, and consider it a despicable and uncivilized act. Islam specifically prohibits such acts and behaviour. Therefore, whatever the provocation, we strongly condemn the attacks on Christian properties and institutions in some places in Kashmir and in Maler Kotla in the Indian state of Punjab. We urge the authorities concerned to take stern legal action against the culprits”.
The statement appealed Muslims in India, in particular, and elsewhere, in general, to show restraint in such situations and limit their disapproval and protest against such incidents to peaceful demonstrations, press statements and memoranda to the authorities concerned.
The signatories to the statement are: Syed Shahabuddin, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM); Nusrat Ali, Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; Asaduddin Owaisi, MP & Leader, Majlis Ittehadul Muslimin; Dr. Zafar Mahmood, President, Interfaith Coalition & Zakat Foundation of India; Navaid Hamid, General Secretary, Movement for the Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN) and Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, Editor, The Milli Gazette & former-President, AIMMM. (pervezbari@eth.net)