Taslima's article sparks violence in Karnataka, 2 killed

Taslima's article sparks violence in Karnataka, 2 killed, the article is followed by my commentary and Quotes from Quraan.

The Indian Muslim clergy and the leadership needs to jump in on this. As an individual she has the right to express her opinions whether we agree or not, as much as any one has a right to condemn her statements.

Link: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2010/03/taslimas-article-sparks-violence-in_01.html

The major mistake Muslims are making is not to have a debate with her on the issues, that's the civil and democratic thing to do. She will lose debate "She told the Muslim women to burn the Burqa" as if she will start wearing a skirt if a westerner says "Burn the Saree, it is a sign of backwardness". Neither is a sign of backwardness, it is a culture that has evolved and no one will drop what they are used to on the sound of a word 'drop'. In a democracy, people should have the freedom to speak; the best way to combat a bad idea is to offer good ideas to compete.
The major mistake Muslims are making is not to have a debate with her on the issues. They did not have enough faith in their culture or religion to debate. Taslima would have easily lost in a debate from a few intellectuals and most likely she would not have gone on the attack binge.

Ms. Nasreen is a bellyacher and not a reformer. A reformer brings solutions to the issues and presents his or her research and asks the scholars to review and build consensus for a gradual acceptance of the proposed ideas. Instead, she agitates and builds resentment and does exactly opposite of what she claims to do; reform. Her approach is wrong and her statements may please the Islam-bashers and earn some circulation. However, her opinion does not affect the world or the religion of Islam.

Ref: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2007/11/asylum-for-taslima-nasrin.html
The role of a Muslim is to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill.

Mike Ghouse is a thinker, writer, speaker, optimist and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Co-existence, Peace, Islam and India. He is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. His work is reflected at three websites and 22 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
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QURAAN ON THE ISSUE

The Quran teaches us precisely how to deal with the ignorant people like Salman Rushdie or Taslima Nasreen. The Quran never suggests beheading, killing or attacking such people!

[4:140] He has instructed you in the scripture that: if you hear GOD's revelations being mocked and ridiculed, you shall not sit with them, unless they delve into another subject. Otherwise, you will be as guilty as they are. GOD will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers together in Hell.

[5:57] O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous scripture who mock and ridicule your religion, nor shall you befriend the disbelievers. You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers.

[6:68] If you see those who mock our revelations, you shall avoid them until they delve into another subject. If the devil causes you to forget, then, as soon as you remember, do not sit with such evil people.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers.

[23:96] Therefore, counter their evil works with goodness; we are fully aware of their claims.

[10:99] Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Do you want to force the people to become believers?

[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.

[42:48] If they turn away, we did not send you as their guardian. Your sole mission is delivering the message. When we shower the human beings with mercy, they become proud, and when adversity afflicts them, as a consequence of their own deeds, the human beings turn into disbelievers.

The Quran also precisely warns us against hypocrite Mullahs who disobey the Quran and initiate anarchy:

[9:31] They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords, instead of GOD. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners.

[42:21] They follow idols who decree for them religious laws never authorized by GOD. If it were not for the predetermined decision, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors have incurred a painful retribution.

[2:170] When they are told, "Follow what GOD has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided?

[9:34] O you who believe, many religious leaders and preachers take the people's money illicitly, and repel from the path of GOD. Those who hoard the gold and silver, and do not spend them in the cause of GOD, promise them a painful retribution.

[63:4] When you see them, you may be impressed by their looks. And when they speak, you may listen to their eloquence. They are like standing logs. They think that every call is intended against them. These are the real enemies; beware of them. GOD condemns them; they have deviated.

[14:21] When they all stand before GOD, the followers will say to the leaders, "We used to follow you. Can you spare us even a little bit of GOD's retribution?" They will say, "Had GOD guided us, we would have guided you. Now it is too late, whether we grieve or resort to patience, there is no exit for us."

Thank you and may God guide me,

Muhammed Irtaza

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Taslima's article sparks violence in Karnataka, 2 killed

SHIMOGA/BANGALORE/HASSAN: Two persons died and eight others were injured in Shimoga district of Karnataka on Monday following violent protests over the publication of an article by Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen on the burqa in a vernacular daily. While one of the victims died in police firing, the other died during the clashes.

The police opened fire after protesters, who were taking out a procession, burnt 12 two-wheelers, two tractors, two autos and pelted stones at buses and buildings. The deceased were identified as Mustafa and Ataulla.

According to home minister P V Acharya, there was trouble in Hassan too, with protesters burning two-wheelers, shops and raining stones on buses and buildings. But the situation there was more under control. About two dozen persons were arrested in connection with the incidents.

Curfew has been clamped until Tuesday morning in both districts. The police force was meagre in Shimoga with most of the personnel being deployed in other parts of the state on account of Holi. The intelligence wing is also said to have erred in assessing the situation when the protesters began attacking shops and went on a burning spree.

One of the victims of the violence in Shimoga, Karanataka, died after the police opened fire in the air to prevent loss of property during the protests over an article by Taslima Nasreen.

In fact, the district administration had appeal to community leaders not to go ahead with their procession plans, in vain. In Hassan, minority committee members gathered in large numbers and forced the closure of shops belonging to members of their community. Hassan additional SP Yellappa told TOI that a section of protesters turned violent after submitting a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.

But IGP (southern range) Jeevenkumar V Gaonkar said the situation was limping back to normal, but they would continue intensive patrolling across the town for the next couple of days. KSRP men and additional forces from other districts have been pressed into action.

Meanwhile, the Mysore police tightened security by erecting pickets at many spots. Police commissioner Sunil Agarwal said, "So far, no incident has been reported in the city, but we don't want to take chances."

Karnataka home minister P V Acharya said the government has taken all possible steps to check violence from spreading in the state. "We have ensured an elaborate bandobust in all 30 districts of the state and prohibitory orders have been clamped in several sensitive districts," he said.

FROM ABDUSSALAM PUTHIGE, EDITOR OF A KANNADA DAILY

Last 2 days have witnessed a lot of turmoil in the state of Karnataka. ' Kannada Prabha' a prominent Kannada Daily news paper in the state (belongs to the Indian Express group) carried translation of an article written by Thasleema Nasreen on the Islamic practice of Hijab or the female dress code( Issue dated 28th Feb 2010). The article contained extremely derogatory and provocative remarks against Allah, the Prophet ( S), his wives, the holy Quran and the entire Islamic tradition.The fact that it appeared on the very next day of Meelad clearly indicated the intention of the publishers to deliberately hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community. Many of our friends immediately tried to contact the editor to register their protest. But the editor or the management did not take it seriously.

In the evening that day a meeting of the Muslim leaders was held and an appeal was issued requesting all Muslims to control their emotions and not to resort to any violent protest. But in spite of these efforts from our side people in many parts of the state came to the streets to express their disapproval. As expected the situation went out of control in many places and the situation took a violent turn. 0n 1st Feb Police fired at a group of protesters and killed two persons. We in the meantime were trying to persuade local leaders to register complaints in the local police stations against the editor and publisher of the newspaper and also made arrangements to file a suit in the state High court. Memorandums were presented to all the concerned authorities both in the State and the central government. We met the Director General of Police who assured us that every possible action will be taken against the newspaper. In the evening we met the state Chief Minister , expressed the feelings of the community and requested him to take a few specific measure. He assured us that those measures will taken.

Today our delegation also met the management of the Indian Express group and after detailed talks, presented the following four demands before them:

1.They should publish an unconditional apology in the front page and in a very clearly visible manner.( earlier experience is, they agree to apologise but the apology is published in smallest possible letters and size and printed in some remote corner of an inner page)
2. They should take stringent disciplinary action against the person (in the editorial Board) responsible for the appearance of the said article.
3.They should publish a 4 page supplement with positive articles on Prophet (S).
4. They should assure as in very clear terms that they wont repeat such mischief.
The management conceded to all these demands.

The news of this talk with the management, assurance of the Chief Minister and of the DGP was communicated to the local leaders in various parts of the state. As a result the situation in the state is improving now.

Feroze Bhai, Dr.Thaha Matheen and myself, apart from some other friends personally participated in the talks with the Chief minister and the Indian Express management.
Thanking You,
Abdussalam Puthige

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