[Assam] Assamese Muslim should take note, Taslima from Maymenshing( part of Pragjyotishpur) telling ‘Opryo Khoytos’ and getting fanatical backlash from other Muslims seems to prove that they are not capable of recognising falsehood or willing to do so.

Fri Aug 10 00:18:37 PDT 2007

 Target Taslima: No room for critics in Islam?
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070810/211/6j9ko.html

<http://in.rd.yahoo.com//ibnlivenews/?/SIG=112o9d4t8/**http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibnlive.com%2F>

 By IBNlive.com

*Friday August 10, 10:59 AM*

First it was author Salman Rushdie and now, once again, it's eminent writer
Taslima Nasreen at the receiving end of religious intolerance.

The Bangladeshi author was attacked by the Muslim hardliner MLAs of
political party Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in Hyderabad.

The MLAs, angry over Taslima's alleged remarks on Islam and Prophet
Mohammad, attacked her at a press conference where the author was to release
the Telugu translation of her latest book Shodh.

The enraged activists hurled abuses at the author and even threw pieces of
furniture at her. Nasreen was shielded by journalists and some senior
officials, who also got injured in the process.

Police arrested three MLAs of the MIM later on.

While the incident comes as a shock, the pertinent issue is whether the
critics of Islam are victimised by their own community? Majlis Ittehadul
Muslimeen MLA, Akbaruddin Owaisi and Social Activist Nafisa Ali debated that
on *CNN-IBN Face the Nation*.

*Truth, banished by Fatwas*

Tasleema Nasreen initially gained fame as a poet and columnist. However, she
gradually drew attention from all quarters for a series of books that she
wrote unveiling the dark truths of the Islamic society. Some of her critics
believe that part of the reasons of Taslima Nasrin's popularity is because
of her critical views on religions, especially Islam.

The Thursday's attack on Taslima is not the first one. She has been living
in exile, ever since Fatwas and banishment orders were issued against her by
Muslim clerics in Bangladesh.

Condemning the attacks on the writer, socialite Nafisa Ali said, "I feel
sorry for the situation she was in. At a time when we are talking of
Gandhigiri and offering flowers, the goons in the garb of MLAs are throwing
chairs and bags at a writer and abusing her. This sends out a very wrong
message about how India treats people here."

Nafisa Ali said that she herself is a Muslim and her according to knowledge
of Islam, the religion does not permits anyone to disgrace a woman like
this. "People like the Hyderabad MLAs who attacked Taslima are responsible
for giving Islam a bad name," she said.

The protestors said they are Muslim hardliners and are least repentant about
the mistreatment meted out to the author. They said the offense to Islam is
so great that all the physical violence is justified.

"Taslima Nasreen has passed denigrated comments on Prophet Mohammad and
purdah," said Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA, Akbaruddin Owaisi.

The MLA also denied that there was any kind of physical violence at all. "It
wasn't physical violence. She got what she deserves. Probably she deserves
more. Why are we talking about a writer who is not an Indian?" he asked.

Drawing a comparison between Taslima and Hindu hardliners, Akbaruddin Owaisi
said, "Nasreen is no different than a (Praveen) Togadia, who is a Hindu
fundamental leader. She has hurt the sentiments of 20 crore Muslims. We are
bothered so much about one person who is not even an Indian but we don't
seem to care about the lot of Muslims in this country who are disgusted with
her."

Akbaruddin Owaisi said that what happened at the press conference was
completely justified and in fact Nasrin deserved more. He said that this is
in no way physical violence.

Muslims expect democratic treatment by Hindus but are unwilling to abide by
the rules of democracy. "Democracy does not allow you to hurt somebody's
religious sentiments. The religious sentiments of Muslims have been hurt.
Why are we not talking about that?"

*"She deserves Fatwas"*

There are democratic methods of protest and the one adopted by Hyderabad
MLAs was certainly not one. Is it correct to use physical force, throw
things at a person, use abusive language and expect that to be considered a
democratic protest?

"You showed on TV what happened at the last. But you did not show what
happened in the beginning. My party had gone there first and asked Taslima
Nasreen to withdraw her work and take back all her opinions, which had hurt
the Muslims. But instead of that she started expressing those more strongly.
She spoke derogatory things about Islam and Prophet Mohammad," said
Akbaruddin Owaisi.

But what about M F Hussain's paintings of Hindu God's and Goddesses? Does he
have a right to make those paintings?

"I condemn Hussain's depiction of Hindu Gods in the manner that he has. He
was booked under the law and was forced to leave the country. And here we
are giving amnesty to a writer who is from Bangladesh?"

On being asked whether he approves off the legal action against Hussain he
said, "I condemn what he does. When he can be brought under the law of the
country, why not Taslima Nasreen?"

Nafisa Ali responding to Akbaruddin Owaisi's comments said, "Hussain does
not have the right to paint Hindu Gods in the nude. It is a disgrace and
very hurtful. I don't appreciate Hussain's art. It should not be allowed to
come into the public domain."

Is Akbaruddin Owaisi the right kind of leader for the Muslims at the moment?
"Definitely not. The charges against Hussain were taken to court and probed
by the authorities. If the Muslim leaders have a problem with Taslima
Nasreen's writings, they must take it to court and address it legally. Why
do on a rampage?" she asked.

Responding to Nafisa Ali's comments, Akbaruddin Owaisi said it is sad that
despite being a Muslim, Nafisa is pushing a Bangladeshi writer's case but
fails to see the "20 crore Muslims that are hurt."

"All the secular minded people must come together and demand the Indian
government to cancel the amnesty of Taslima Nasreen. We do not need such
people in India," said Akbaruddin Owaisi.

He said that Dalai Lama too lives in India and enjoys amnesty but he has
never voiced provocative statements that would hurt anyone.

Nafisa Ali concluded the argument by appealing the Muslim extremists to
leave the author alone. She said, "Nobody reads Taslima Nasreen's books. I
can say for sure that 99.99 per cent of Indians have never read her books.
Why bother so much about her?"

However, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that Taslima Nasrin is someone who deserves
banishment and that India "doesn't need people like her."

"People may or may not read her work. But in her press conferences, she has
issued vengeful, controversial statements against Islam. We don't need such
people in our country," said Akbaruddin Owaisi.

**

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