Muslim Intellectuals, Activists Condemn Paris Beheading, Demand Abolition Of Apostasy And Blasphemy Laws
Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy, Press
Release
26 October
2020
Muslim
intellectuals and activists speaking at a webinar on Sunday condemned the Paris
beheading of a school teacher, Samuel Paty, by an 18-year-old Muslim fanatic,
Abdullakh Anzorov.
The webinar
was organised by the Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD). Moderated by
its convener, Javed Anand, all four panellists are office bearers and prominent
members of IMSD.
In his introductory
remarks Anand stated: “We are here to condemn in unequivocal terms, no ifs and
buts, not only the man responsible for this barbaric act but all those who had
any role in the instigation of the crime as also all those who seek to justify
it. We are here not just to condemn the slaying of Mr Paty, but also to demand
the abolishing of apostasy and banishing of blasphemy anywhere and everywhere
across the world”.
Islamic
Scholar Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali, Mumbai-based, argued that killing people for
blasphemy or apostasy is not permissible in Islam. The Qur’an never mentioned
such punishments. The Qur’an has stood for peace and justice in a non-violent
way. It will be very fruitful if scholars and ulema scrutinised and sifted
through Hadith literature which has been pending over the years. The
confirmation of a Hadith has to be in consonance with the verses of the Qur’an,
she said.
“Respectfully,
the Paris beheading is a wake-up call to the ulema and leaders of the Muslim
world. It is time for both the clergy and the parents to instruct children that
such acts of violence are not only detested and abhorred by Islam but are in
total contradiction to Islam’s reverence for peace, explicit recognition of
tolerance, compassion, social equality, high moral order and spiritual depth,
Ali added.
Columnist, New Age Islam, Arshad Alam, Delhi-based, in his presentation contextualised the
Islamist beheading of the teacher. Pointing out that it was planned and
pre-meditated, he argued the prime objective of such acts of terror is to
silence any critique of Islam. Alam added that Charlie Hebdo cartoons must be
seen within a European tradition which has for long satirised religious
traditions, particularly Christianity. Since Islam is also now a European
religion, the same yardstick must be applied to this religion also. Those who
want to retain blasphemy laws on the statute are basically the same forces
which are opposed to the liberal secular tradition and therefore should be
rightly understood as indulging in right wing politics, he said.
Alam argued
that it is incumbent on Muslims to raise their voice against the laws of
blasphemy and apostasy as worldwide they are the worst victims of such laws.
Moreover, these laws serve to control and intimidate the minds of Muslims and
till the time they are not abrogated, Muslims and others will not have the
freedom to discuss, debate and critique, something which is cardinal in order
to develop a free and open society.
Advocate
and mediator, A. T. Jawad, Chennai-based, spoke about the similarities between
blasphemy and sedition as weapons of power and control used by theocracies and
autocracies to suppress dissent and to whip up mob frenzy. He said that
religion and nationalism are excuses used to charge up emotions. The anti-blasphemy
laws and anti-sedition laws are used to attack detractors and dissenters by
theocratic and autocratic (far right) rulers.
He pointed
out how in the 11th century AD, Sunni scholars of law and theology, called the
“ulema,” began working closely with political rulers to challenge what they
considered to be the sacrilegious influence of Muslim philosophers on society.
The most
prominent in consolidating Sunni orthodoxy, said Jawad, was the brilliant and
highly regarded Islamic scholar Ghazali, who died in the year 1111. In several
influential books still widely read today, Ghazali declared two long-dead
leading Muslim philosophers, Farabi and Ibn Sina, apostates for their
unorthodox views on God’s power and the nature of resurrection. Their
followers, Ghazali wrote, could be punished with death.
Ghazali’s
declaration provided justification to Muslim sultans from the 12th century
onward who wished to persecute– even execute – thinkers seen as threats to
conservative religious rule. The trend continues today, said Jawad.
Activist
and writer Feroze Mithiborwala, Mumbai-based, said essentially the basic
argument against the cartoon controversy is that they “mock” and “offend my
religious sensibilities” and thus should be banned. The cartoons of Prophet
Muhammad, which undoubtedly hurt the feelings of ordinary Muslims actually
required a non-violent response, which would have been far more effective.
On one
hand, we have a murder committed by a religious fanatic in the name of
blasphemy. On the other hand, there is a secular French tradition of absolute
freedom of expression, which includes the right to offend all religions,
Mithiborwala added.
He said
it's high time religious people realised one basic truth: every religious text
and tradition is ‘offensive, blasphemous and heretical’ to the followers of
other sects and religions.
The very
concepts of blasphemy and heresy are essentially anti-people and
anti-democratic, as their agenda is to stymie any theological and intellectual
debate and discussion on the issue of religious oppression and violence, both
ideological and structural. Therefore concepts such as blasphemy and heresy
have no place in any conscientious civilised society and must go, Mithiborwala
concluded.
A 2-minute
silence was observed at the beginning of the webinar as a mark of respect for
the slain teacher whom Hassen Chalghoumi, an imam who leads prayers at a mosque
in a Paris suburb described as “a martyr for freedom of expression, and a wise
man who has taught tolerance, civilisation and respect for others." The
imam added: “This is not Islam, sorry, it's not religion, its Islamism, it's
the poison of Islam.”
For further
information, please contact Javed Anand: javedanand@gmail.com
--
Javed Anand
Convener, Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy
(IMSD)
www.imsd.in
Trustee, Citizens for Justice and Peace
Co-editor, Sabrang India Online
www.sabrangindia.in
+919870402556
+91-22-26602288
Address: Nirant, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Mumbai 400049, India
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