Letters to Editor
Attack on Ahmadiyya community
Joy, Dhaka
The indifference of government towards the religious bigots is becoming a cause of grave concern. The repeated attacks on the religious minority has not drawn much attention from the high ups of the government, worse still, in some cases a partner of the coalition is involved in it.
I found the news coverage of the recent attack on the central Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Mosque at Bakshibazar in Dhaka rather disturbing. The use of the word Sunnis attacking the Ahmadiyya gave me the weird feeling that I am living in some sectarian violence torn place like Gujarat or Baghdad. If the bigots are not reined in, Dhaka can well become that kind of a city.
Their demand of declaring of the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim by the state is equally ridiculous. What difference will it make? The Almighty will decide who is a Muslim and who is not. His decision is the only thing that should matter to a Muslim.
The political game initiated by this issue is distasteful and unwarranted.
Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/08/23/d40823110887.htm
Rein them in
Salim Ullah Kahlon, Dhaka
This refers to the worrying news that the mullahs of Khatme Nubuwwat and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) have announced that they will forcibly occupy the Ahmadiyya mosque situated at Bakshi Bazaar and remove the sign of Ahmadiyya Mosque.
Article 41 of the Constitution of Bangladesh declares Every citizen has the right to profess, practise and propagate any religion and that every religious community or denomination has the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions.
It is also against the tenets of Islam, which guarantees freedom of religion. In chapter 2:257 of the Holy Quran it is stated that There should be no compulsion in matters of religion.
The civilised world should take note of these atrocities committed against this community in Bangladesh. The home and religious affairs ministers must find the will to prevent any such attack on the Ahmadiyya mosques in Bangladesh which might result in bloodshed.
I call on the government to act firmly and decisively against the bigots.
Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/08/23/d40823110988.htm
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