RELIGIOUS LEADERS of different communities condemned acts of terrorism on Sunday. They also denounced attempts to link such incidents with a particular religion.
They were speaking at a joint press conference here held under the aegis of the Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar Foundation.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board senior vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Naib Imam of Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, Sikh leader Rajendra Singh Bagga and Ram Janmabhoomi temple priest Satyendra Dasji Maharaj stressed the need for promoting communal amity and brotherhood.
While Maulana Sadiq called for greater inter-faith dialogue for fostering better relations among religious communities, Maulana Rashid objected to the use of the term “Islamic terrorism” by a section of the media. “We never refer to the US invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq or for that matter Israel’s aggression in Lebanon as acts of Christian and Jewish terrorism,” he pointed out. Condemning those behind the propaganda, he said, Islam did not spread by the sword, as was being made out by these vested interests.
The leaders said no particular religion should be held responsible for terrorism. People of the country understood that terrorists were trying to cause communal violence, they said. In some, instances politicians were responsible for provoking these incidents with an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections in the State, they added.
{{/usCountry}}The leaders said no particular religion should be held responsible for terrorism. People of the country understood that terrorists were trying to cause communal violence, they said. In some, instances politicians were responsible for provoking these incidents with an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections in the State, they added.
{{/usCountry}}By remaining calm in the wake of terrorist attacks in Varanasi, Mumbai and Malegaon, people had conveyed that they would not allow militants to succeed in their nefarious designs, they said.
Muslim clerics criticised the United States for allegedly targeting Islam and attacking Iraq and Afghanistan. They also deplored the Israeli aggression in Lebanon. They asked people to remain vigilant and united.