It was shocking that three MLAs of Ittahidul
Muslimin in Hyderabad gatecrashed into the book
release function of her book Lajjai translated
into Telugu on 9^th August and tried to beat up
Taslima and shouted slogans using unbecoming
words, even using abusing language. And all this
in the name of Islam as if Islam stands for such
hooliganism.

The party leadership instead of condemning such
wayward behaviour, approved of it and patted them
on back. They were even given hero’s welcome. One
MLA even said that if Taslima comes to Hyderabad
again, she will be beheaded. If elected
representatives take law into their own hands,
there cannot be greater tragedy. If they had done
it without invoking Islam, it would have been a
different story, though equally condemnable.

Was this for love of Islam? No way. It was love
of power, pure and simple. The Party leadership
thought it is good opportunity to strengthen and
widen its electoral base. Human behaviour,
especially political behaviour is extremely
complex. Politicians, while acting in
self-interest, invoke high ideals in order to
cover up their utterly selfish motives.

Someone Imam even declared from Calcutta that he
would pay Rs.50,000/- if anyone blackens
Taslima’s face. An Imam is supposed to be very
respectable and responsible person who leads
people in namaz (prayer) but also leads them in
social and political matters. An Imam’s behaviour
should be highly restrained and responsible. I
totally disagree with Taslima’s views and think
she is completely ignorant about Qur’anic
teachings but that does not give anyone right to
violently attack her or incite people to attack
her.

Apart from the fact that such hooliganism is
morally reprehensible it is unwise from the
viewpoint of those who are opposed to Taslima’s
attacks on Islam.

This gives her much more publicity that she
deserves. Now this attack that took place in
Hyderabad will give her worldwide publicity on
one hand, and would make her celebrity in the
eyes of those who are already hostile to Islam.
Now reams and reams of papers will be blackened
in her praise.

She would also be now much more hostile to Islam
than ever before. She would really hate Islam
because of hooliganism of some members of
Ittihadul Muslimin. If we really love Islam than
we should try to win her heart and soul through
love and compassion. And that is what the Prophet
of Islam did. It is well known story that a
Jewish woman who hated the Prophet (PBUH) used to
throw garbage on him whenever he passed from
below her house. Once when she did not throw
garbage on him, he inquired why she did not and
was told she is sick. He immediately went to
inquire about her health. She was so moved that
immediately accepted Islam then and there.

What a contrast! Those who claim to love Prophet
and Islam are attacking a woman and making her
hate Islam more than before. This is madness, not
wise behaviour and must be condemned as strongly
as possible. These MLAs and crowd accompanied
them have brought utter shame to Islam and
Muslims. It is heartening that many religious
leaders of Muslims and intellectuals have
condemned it. Maulana Mustaqim of Jamiat
–ul-Ulama-i-Hind, Shiah leader Maulana Ather
Abbas Rizvi and several others have strongly
condemned attack on Taslima Nasreen.

The book which was being released in Hyderabad
had nothing to do with Islam. It was Telugu
translation of her book on persecution of Hindu
minority in Bangla Desh. After demolition of
Babri Masjid like hooligans of Hindutva attacked
Muslims all over India and engineered communal
violence in number of cities and killed Muslims,
the hooligans of Jamat-e-Islami of Bangla Desh
attacked Hindus and demolished their temples and
set fire to their houses. In Lajja (shame) she
has condemned all this. Do we Muslims not heave
sigh of relief when some fair-minded Hindus stand
by Muslims when Hindu communal forces attack us?
Should we not stand by fair-minded Muslims of
Bangla Desh if they stand by Hindu minority?

It is true Taslima has written provocative
articles on Islam. We must counter it by arguing
on the basis of Qur’an rather than attacking her
physically, and in very dignified language
befitting a true Muslim. No one can cite a single
verse of Qur’an or any hadith to support violence
against others, even enemies, as long as they are
peaceful. On the other hand we can cite several
verses from the Qur’an, to support dignified
behaviour.

The Qur’an says, " Call to the way of thy Lord
with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue
with them in the best manner" (16:125). Again
what a contrast –the hooligans of Ittihadul
Muslimin beat up a woman and other journalists
and others present there. Also, Allah says in the
Qur’an "..do not be aggressors, Allah does not
love aggressors." (2:190). And even if a Muslim
renounces Islam and becomes unbeliever, no one
has right to punish him/her except Allah.

“Those who believe”, says Qur’an, “then
disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve,
then increase in disbelief, Allah is not
referring to any punishment for those who
repeatedly believe and disbelieve and increase in
disbelief, let alone human beings punishing them
of their own. Even if Taslima has ceased to
believe and has increased in her disbelief, no
one has any right among human beings to punish
her. It is matter of her conscience. All one can
do is to dialogue with her in dignified way and
then leave it to her conscience

II

Democracies in socially backward countries like
India face an acute dilemma. The entire
functioning of democracy depends on rights of
people and freedom of conscience and right to
believe or disbelieve. Both individual and
collective rights are sacred in democracy.
However, politicians greedy for votes of
illiterate masses, and even educated middle class
people, try to incite religious feelings and get
their votes. Most of the politicians find this
easy way to legislative assemblies or Parliament.
They emerge as champions of this or that religion
and grab their votes.

This is what the Sangh Parivar did by launching
an aggressive movement for Ramjanambhoomi and
demolished Babri Masjid and took pride in that
act of lawlessness and destruction. The Sangh
leaders launched not only aggressive campaign but
Sangh leaders like Uma Bharti and Sadhvi
Rithambara used abusive language against Muslims
and the Government did nothing. They allowed hate
campaign to go on.

If the authorities had taken stiff action against
Uma Bharti and Rithambara, it would have sent a
strong signal to all others that they cannot get
away with such aggressive campaigns against all
norms of democracy. Democracy cannot succeed
without following rule of law. If Uma Bharti and
Rithambara had been punished, MLAs of Ittihadul
Muslimin would not have dared to indulge in this
hooliganism.

However, as the Swedish scholar who wrote Asian
Drama observed India’s is the soft government and
refuses to act until all damage is done. Taslima
Nasreen’s attackers also got away with symbolic
arrest and were released on bail immediately
thereafter. It speaks volumes about our
indifferent approach and also fear of votes.

So many communal riots take place because no
guilty in the riots is ever punished. All of them
know this and have nothing to care for
consequences. And riots keep on taking place.
Mumbai riots more than 800 persons were killed,
many of them most brutally, and yet state is
extremely reluctant to act lest Shiv Sena may not
approve of it. Can this ever be the reason for
not acting at all for a democratic government?

This is indeed bad omen for Indian democracy. The
people involved in such public crimes must be
severely punished to send strong message that
hooliganism will not be tolerated in any case.
Rule of law must be applied under any
circumstances. Politicians should not be allowed
to incite people publicly to indulge in mayhem
and murder. This is repeatedly happening in our
democracy.

It is heartening sign that many religious
personalities among Muslims and secular
intellectuals among them have come out strongly
condemning this attack on Taslima Nasreen. Still
many columnists, even waiting for a day started
demanding where are those Muslims and secularists
who immediately condemn Hindutvawadis but keep
quiet when some Muslim fanatics indulge in such
extremist action. Many such columnists will come
out with many such articles and further aggravate
feelings in majority community.

We are not a mature democracy and should come out
against any act of hooliganism and violence
whosoever perpetrates it, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs
or Christians. We must promote zero tolerance
towards any act of violence. It should be our
litmus test. If we want to enjoy fruits of
secular democracy we must shed all forms of
partisan feelings. Politicisation of religion in
our democracy has already done enough damage. How
much more damage we want to inflict?

Is any one listening?