By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: As the fate of 17 Indians facing death sentence in UAE still hangs in balance muslim ulemas and clerics have launched an intiative for their release on compassionate grounds.
“There is a provision of ‘maafi’ (forgiveness) in Islam. The Indian national may have been tried as per the law still on human grounds our government should take some bold intiative,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, the Naib Imam of Aishbagh Eidgaah. He even suggested that diplomatic dialogue should be initiated so that their death sentence could be commuted.
[Photo by iosworld.org]
The most voiceforous demands stems from Shahi Imam, Punjab Maulana Habeebur Rehman who advocated dispatching a panel of Arabic learned persons for interacting with the UAE government. “The centre government should come forward and send a delegation of arabic knowing people and Islamic scholars from Nadwatul Uloom, Lucknow and Deoband to interact with the UAE government,” said Rehman talking over phone from Ludhiana. He stated that family members of these 17 Indians who hail from Punjab met him at the masjid and requested his interference. “It is a routine thing every year when Indians are convicted which may be at times due to lack of proper knowledge of Arabic. There is a provision of badla and maafi from the relatives of the slain victim. I am sure these things have not been explained to the accused,” said Rehman.
Echoing the same sentiments, Assistant general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Maulana Abdul Raheem Quresihi talking over the phone from Hyderabad remarked: “We cannot directly interfere in the matter. However the relatives of the accused can approach with the option of money or forgiveness as per the country’s rules.”
Several other clerics in Lucknow including Maulana Yasoob Abbas who heads the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB), Maulana Fazlur Rehman Waizi, the Imam of Tile Wali masjid also urged for exploring the option of forgiveness for the accused. “We are not aware of the details regarding the incident but on human ground Indian government should request for forgiveness as per Islamic shariah,” said Maulana Abbas.
Eminent lawyer and Member, AIMPLB, Zafaryab Jilani stated that Indian consulate in UAE should step in and explain all possible options to the accused. “If the case is still under trial the next of kin of the victim can be approached for forgiveness which may be in lieu of some favour also. Such possiblity should always be explored by the Indian counterpart. The demand for sending Arabic scholars is also genuine and should be considered seriously,” said Jilani.