The Hindu : National : Call to register protest against cartoons in peaceful manner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006

National

National

Call to register protest against cartoons in peaceful manner

Special Correspondent

"Caricaturing of Prophet a sacrilege in the name of freedom of expression"

SHOWING THEIR DISPLEASURE: A large number of Muslims at a public meeting to condemn the publication of cartoons of Prophet Muhammed, at Big Mosque in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI: Speakers at a rally to condemn the publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammed and demolition of the holy shrine at Samarra in Iraq appealed to people in general and Muslims in particular to register their protest in a peaceful and dignified manner, steering clear of conspiracies to divide them.

A large number of Muslims, including several women, took part in the procession from the Munroe statue to Wallajahi Mosque at Triplicane.

Addressing the rally, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu , cautioned people against attempts at pitting one group against another within the same religion or pitting one caste or ethnic group against another. India, where a 140 million-strong Muslim population lived, was an example of a peaceful, coherent and harmonious nation.

Referring to the military action against Iraq, he said the United States and some other major powers had been committing atrocities in that country. Iraq was turning to be a quagmire for these major powers, thanks to the resistance and struggles put up by the Iraqis. He also criticised attempts to subjugate Iran under the pretext of targeting its nuclear programmes.

Mr. Ram dubbed the caricaturing of Prophet Muhammed by European newspapers a sacrilege committed in the name of freedom of expression. This only betrayed the "Islamophobia" that was on the rise in some parts of the world, though Islam had made great contributions to human civilisation in different fields, including art, science and literature. No freedom was absolute even in European countries, he said.

Different sections of the people in the country should express solidarity with those who resisted bigotry and hatred. Such unity would also frustrate attempts by forces of fundamentalism, communalism and terrorism to take advantage of such situations.

Correct understanding

Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot, appealed to all Muslims, Sunni and Shia, to spread a correct understanding of the message of Islam throughout the world to keep mischievous elements at bay.

He urged Muslims to register their protests peacefully and decently. He asked traders to boycott goods from those countries that indulged in caricaturing the Prophet. Nawab Abdul Ali expressed his grief over the destruction of the Sammara mosque.

The rally was addressed among others by chairman of the Tamil Nadu Shia Muslim Convention N.A. Mirza, Chief Khazi of the State Government Mufti Salahuddin Mohammed Ayub, Chief Shia Khazi Moulana G.M. Mehdi Khan, secretary of the convention Kumail Hyder Khan and vice-chairman of the convention Mir Zahid Hussain.

A resolution adopted at the rally condemned the caricaturing of the Prophet and demolition of the mosque.

It urged the Indian Government "to lodge our protest with the Government of Iraq for not adequately protecting the holy shrine."

It called for strengthening security in the region.

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