Interview of Dr. Shahid Badr Falahi, Ex SIMI president by Abu Zafar Adil Azmi, first published in Urdu monthly Afkar-e-Milli.
Question: it has been eight years since the ban on SIMI. What is your thinking now?
Answer: We have no option except legal fight. We are fighting this battle with complete attention. People who believe in justice know what has been happening with us in these eight years.
Dr. Shahid Badr Falahi in his clinic
Question: SIMI is charged with being involved in illegal activities?
Answer: All of our activities have come to standstill since last eight years. The talk of illegal activities is false; we are only fighting legal battle. When ban is imposed we defend ourselves in tribunal. Then matter comes to Supreme Court. Here new ban is imposed before taking the matter under consideration.
Question: It is said about SIMI that it does not believe in Indian constitution.
Answer: It is unfortunate that this question is raised before those who have been stricken by ban and battling against it. This question could be justified if we do not go to Judiciary and continued our activities. This question should be raised before those who do not go to legally fight the ban on them.
Question: SIMI talked about Khilafat in India.
Answer: We have talked about Khilafat on the path of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Gandhiji also said that if he got a chance, he would bring system of governing like Umar and Abu Bakr in which there was accountability and justice. We believe in molding thought not by force and compulsion. If someone talks about Ram Raj, another about bringing communism in the country then they are acceptable but we are considered criminals.
Question: What is your stand on terrorism?
Answer: The murder of an innocent person is a slaying of whole human kind whether he belongs to any caste or any region and any country. Muslims should oppose it completely whether it were personal level or regional level.
Question: Last year many blasts shook the several parts of the country and SIMI has been accused of involving in those blasts.
Answer: The question is that who benefited from that and who bore the sufferings of those blasts. It should be analyzed. I have already stated that hand was indigenous and mind was foreigner.
Question: The communal hatred in the country is a grave issue. What do you think about it?
Answer: We are supporters of inter-community love and compassion. Whenever ban is lifted we will work for that. We were against anti-humanitarian policies and we adopted the method of preaching not a method of force and compulsion. We believe that all are sons of Adam. There should be no violence and hostility in the name of black and white, poor and rich.