Fighting IS can lead to sectarian violence: Govt tells Delhi HC

The Centre has told the Delhi high court that it cannot allow Indians to go abroad to fight against Islamic State (IS) as it could “directly result in sectarian conflict within India”.

The Centre has told the Delhi high court that it cannot allow Indians to go abroad to fight against Islamic State (IS) as it could “directly result in sectarian conflict within India”.

The-conflict-in-Syria-and-Iraq-has-now-drawn-more-volunteer-fighters-than-past-Islamist-causes-in-Afghanistan-and-the-former-Yugoslavia-and-an-estimated-eight-out-of-10-enlistees-have-joined-Islamic-State-AP-Photo

“Volunteers, if allowed to go into conflict zones, could get radicalised and on their return, could indulge in extremist activities in India,” an affidavit filed by the home ministry said.

It said Indians cannot be allowed to land on foreign counties with the “declared objective” of taking part in any conflict saying it would “adversely affect friendly relations with other countries”.

“The activities of the organisation, Anjuman-e-Haideri, in attempting to mobilise members of a particular sect of the community in India to participate in a conflict in a foreign country are in absolute contravention of the law and stated policy of the country,” it said.

“While the Lucknow based All India Shia Hussaini Fund claimed to have obtained the willingness of nearly 9,000 volunteers for going to Iraq, Kalbe Jawwad, claimed to have enrolled more than one lakh volunteers,” it said. The Centre’s submission came while defending its decision to bar Jawwad and five other members from travelling to Iraq on November 24 last year.