By IANS
Lucknow : Two leading Muslim clerics have condemned the attack on controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen while maintaining that “lawful” protests should be held to demand her ouster from the country.
“There is no doubt that Nasreen’s writings have been blasphemous towards not only Islam but also towards the Prophet. We should stick to only lawful means to register our protest against her,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed, the head of Lucknow’s oldest Islamic seminary Firangi Mahal.
Members of a Muslim political party assaulted Nasreen Thursday at a book release function in Hyderabad, evoking sharp condemnations from the Muslim community in the country. Journalists and activists saved the writer from serious injuries.
Rasheed, who once was the head priest of Lucknow Eidgah, had prevented Nasreen’s visit to Lucknow about three months back when she was invited to address a gathering at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) here.
“No sooner did I come to know about her visit, I apprised the district authorities of the resentment she was bound to attract from the Muslim community. They understood our feelings and advised her to abandon the trip,” the Maulana told IANS.
Rasheed also expressed his displeasure over the central government’s decision to grant asylum to Nasreen.
“On one hand it is said that Bangladeshis are crossing over into India and creating problems for our country and on the other controversial author Taslima Nasreen is given official patronage. Isn’t that contradictory?” he asked.
“I fail to understand why the central government has not paid any heed to the demands of Muslim organisations to cancel Taslima’s visa and deport her.”
Firebrand Shia cleric and scholar Maulana Qalbe Jawaad too disapproved of the attack on Nasreen but demanded her ouster from the country.
“If the attack on her is unlawful, then even the official patronage extended to her by our government is unconstitutional,” Jawaad said. “After all, the secular Indian constitution not only disallows disrespect to any religion but also makes blasphemous references to any religion punishable.”
Denouncing the call by the Hyderabad attackers to behead the controversial author, Jawaad said: “Muslims must exercise restraint and not violate the law of the land while lodging protests against her.”