Kozhikode, July 16: The NDF radicalised and militarised its cadre through its aggressive interpretation of key concepts in Islam like ‘jihad.’ Repudiating the version of major Muslim organisations that greater jihad is the fight against one’s own body, NDF leadership interpreted jihad as ‘armed struggle.’ It blasted other Muslim organisations for taming the community by ‘a weak interpretation of jihad.’ The ND F also pitted itself against the Sufi strain of Islam that has considerable following in Kerala.
The different tariqas of Sufism are branded as escapism from the social duties of a Muslim.
Ashraf bin Ali, ex-secretary of the NDF, was ousted as he was found to be associating with one tariqa of Sufism.
NDF motivated the cadre by upholding the ‘beauty’ of martyrdom.
While mainstream Muslim organisations declared that it is imperative to live as Muslims, the ND F told its cadre not to hesitate to ‘kill and die’ in the path of Islam.
The impact of this indoctrination was telling on the NDF cadre. They modelled themselves on the Mujahidheens fighting in Chechnya, Afghanistan and Iraq unmindful of the fact that the situation in these countries is significantly different from that of Kerala.
Any incident against Muslims in Kerala is linked to the persecution of Muslims elsewhere.
Thus the accused in the Marad case were equated with those languishing in Guantanamo jail. The NDF cadre were told that they should be the ‘protectors’ of Islam when the religion is in danger. They swung into action whenever they saw a ‘threat’ to the religion. They found it their ‘holy duty’ to finish off a youth for allegedly molesting a Muslim girl. The NDF registered growth in the areas where there were communal clashes Nadapuram, Marad, Punnad in Kannur district and Beemap alliin Thiruvananthapuram.
The NDF, after entering these areas, posed as the champion of the community. Capitalising on the wounded feeling of the community members, the ND F further consolidated its position.
The Thodupuzha incident can also be considered as an attempt to win over the sympathy of a section of the community by acting as the ‘defender of Islam.’ It is not an isolated incident but a calculated step meant to exploit the sentiments of the community.
-Agencies