Despite being on the receiving end of hate messages and threats, including Fatwas issued by many Imams and Mufti, for being present at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, the Nation is above all else reiterates Imam Ilyasi.
Radical Islamists have been threatening Imam Umair Ahmad Ilyasi, Chief Imam, All India Imam Organisation since 22nd January when he attended the opening of Ayodhya Ram Mandir. There have been threats to him and his family and calls for his resignation by radical Islamists including leaders of Islamic institutions.
Fatwa (religious edicts) are issued against people found to be allegedly violating Islamic law. Fatwas are extremely dangerous, inciting violence against the person it is issued against and destabilising a tolerant, civilised society.
The reasons cited for the Fatwa against Imam Ilyasi are –
- He attended the opening ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir
- He kept humanity above Islam
- He gave a message of peace from Ayodhya saying that all must unite and Nation is above the Islamic faith.
While Western societies are currently faced with an international threat from various radical Islamic quarters, even moderate Muslims in India are threatened and silenced for their messages of peace, humanity and loyalty to the Nation.
Such violence and intolerance which disregards a country’s law and all its legal institutions and asks for violence, murder and assassination must be strongly and urgently called out.
