Naseeruddin Shah has frequently denounced violence, intolerance and “open hatred” in society (File)
New Delhi:
More than 100 prominent Indian citizens – including actor Naseeruddin shah, poet Javed Akhtar, lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, dancer-choreographer Mallika Sarabhai and distinguished former police officer Julio Ribeiro – issued a joint statement condemning recent terrorist attacks in France and »statements by Muslim religious and political leaders.
The declaration, signed by people of different religions, backgrounds and professions, attacks “the self-proclaimed guardians of Indian Muslims … rationalizing murder in cold blood” and says “no gods, gods, goddesses, prophets or saints can be invoked to justify the murder of other humans ”.
“We, the undersigned, unequivocally and unconditionally condemn the recent murders committed in France by two fanatics in the name of faith. We are deeply troubled by the convoluted logic of some self-proclaimed guardians of Indian Muslims to rationalize cold-blooded killings and outrageous remarks by some heads of state, “the statement said.
“To rationalize crimes by comparing them to similar crimes committed by others is an irrational and absurd argument, because two wrongs do not make a right. We reject all ifs and buts in the justification of heinous crimes in the name of religion , of any religion. No god, gods, goddesses, prophets or saints can be invoked to justify the murder and / or the terror of other human beings ”, he added.
The statement also calls on Muslims in France to “cancel the celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims and their relatives”.
Three people were killed in a knife attack in the French city of Nice earlier this week
Other signatories to the declaration include actor and former Rajya Sabha MP Shabana Azmi, director Kabir Khan, Narmada Bachao activist Andolan Medha Patkar, actor-activist Swara Bhaskar and activist Teesta Setalvad.
On Thursday, an attacker armed with a knife allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” and killed three people in a church in the French city of Nice. Previously, a Parisian schoolteacher was beheaded in broad daylight after showing his students cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed for a lesson on freedom of expression.
It is not known, at this stage, if the two attacks are linked, either to each other or the controversy over the cartoons.
Mr. Macron, who has been the subject of personal attacks for his defense of free speech and cartoons, as well as for calling Islam a “religion in crisis”, has been supported by the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said: “India stands with France in the fight against terrorism”.
Mohammad cartoons are prohibited by Islam, and such actions are considered blasphemy – an explosive problem in ultra-conservative Muslim-majority countries where anyone deemed to have committed such acts can face the death penalty.
