KOLKATA: Members of the Muslim community in Kolkata condemned the video of the beheading of a tailor in Udaipur, with the senior-most cleric in the state and a senior government official terming it un-Islamic and urging law-keepers to bring them to book. Several community members said any individual who harbours such contempt and hatred against a fellow human does not represent Islam and can’t be called Muslim.
While many from the community took to social media to condemn the incident, others issued joint statements to demand harsh punishment of the accused.
“I condemn the heinous crime committed in Udaipur. It is totally unislamic to treat a fellow human in such a way. The religion advocates love and empathy for others. I would urge the law keepers to hand them exemplary punishment,” said Qari Fazlur Rahman, senior most cleric in the state who leads Eid prayers on Red Road every year.
Jawaid Akhtar, a senior official in a government office, said, “Islam does not advocate retaliation, much less a barbaric act like beheading a human.”
The Bengal Imams Association on Wednesday condemned the killing and said “no true Muslim” will support such a heinous act. “They are murderers and their religious identity should not have any bearing on it,” said Mohammad Yahya, Bengal Imams Association chairman.
“Nobody with a sane mind can commit such a heinous crime,” said social worker Afrin Khan on social media.
The reason why Muslims are alarmed by the incident is because the incident points to the emergence of ISIS-like violence in India for the first time, said social activist Mudar Patherya. “The fact that this would happen, that this would be filmed, that people think there is value to making it go viral and create an environment of hatred and fear is something very disturbing,” said Patherya.
Former tennis player Akhtar Ali's daughter Nilofer Ali, a businesswoman, said the incident has the potential to spark tension between communities. “In these times of social media, it can spell trouble for the community. We have grown up in an environment of amity between communities, particularly in Kolkata. Barbaric acts like this have the potential to vitiate the environment and marginalise Muslims further,” she said.
Ali, Akhtar, Patherya and many other Muslims issued a statement condemning the act. Addressed to all the citizens of India, the statement read: “We are Muslims of Kolkata. We condemn the killing of our brother Kanhaiyalal by two individuals claiming to be Muslims. Any individual seeking ill of another cannot be a Muslim. Any individual claiming to represent Islam and carrying out acts of violence in the religion’s name cannot be a Muslim. Any individual who seeks violent revenge for what was said about the Prophet Mohammed cannot be a Muslim. We advocate law-enforcing agencies bring the culprits to justice. We express ‘pursa’ or condolence for Kanhaiya-lal’s family.”
