Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Time for restraint

The editorial "Time for reason and restraint" (Feb. 22) is right in saying that fatwas such as the one issued by Uttar Pradesh Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Quereshi (announcing a reward of cash and gold for the head of the Danish cartoonist who drew Prophet Muhammed) will fuel Islamophobia. No one opposes the right of Muslims to protest the cartoons peacefully. But not everything will pass muster under the guise of protests. Mr. Quereshi's utterances deserve to be condemned and he deserves to be sacked.

T.J. Mathew,
Idukki, Kerala

* * *

While it is appropriate for the media not to publish anything that is meant to hurt others, followers of religions should also be more tolerant. If something is unacceptable, a counter movement, as the editorial suggests, should be the answer, not fatwas.

T.V. Manoj,
Bangalore

* * *

The Minister has engaged in an unlawful act by inciting people to murder. His announcement is the tinder that can easily set fire to the body politic and cause immense damage to religious harmony.

Vembar K. Ranganathan,
Irvington, New York

* * *

The cartoons are a reflection of liberal fundamentalism while Mr. Quereshi's fatwa is a manifestation of religious fundamentalism.

S. Sundara Srinivasan,
Ballwin, Missouri

* * *

The Minister seems to have forgotten that he is an Indian and a democratically elected leader. He should be dealt with in a manner that discourages leaders from making inflammatory statements to instigate people.

R.G.P. Pande,
Chennai

* * *

What Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini did to Salman Rushdie, Mr. Quershi has attempted to do to the Danish cartoonist. Such fatwas are no longer tolerated in the civilised world.

R. Ramarathinam,
Pondicherry

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Resisting filial pulls
Saving vultures from diclofenac
Kashmir maha panchayat: learning from history
Bird flu: intensive farming link
Towards a civilisation alliance
Making a hero of a man best ignored?
Shocking verdict
Time for restraint
Adding to woes
"The world has to deal with Hamas"

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu