Protesters during the anti-war demonstration in Mumbai on March 6

By Zafarul-Islam Khan, IOL South Asia Correspondent

NEW DELHI, March 7 (IslamOnline.net) - During the last two days, Muslims of Mumbai and Delhi came out forcefully against the U.S. plans to attack Iraq. On Friday, March 7, a mammoth demonstration came out the historical Jama Masjid in Delhi while another similar demonstration was held in Mumbai where prayers were held for the Muslims of Iraq and raised slogans against the new Crusade.

On Thursday, Mumbai witnessed a unique demonstration: a protest was held in Azad Maidan, the city's largest square for public meetings. Muslim organizations, led by Raza Academy, called for this protest against the U.S. plans to attack Iraq.

The unique feature was a mock pillar depicting the three modern Satans, U.S., Britain and Israel. Emulating the Haj pilgrims, children, clad in white clothes, pelted stones at the three latter-day "devils".

Raza Academy secretary Saeed Noori appealed to Muslims to let the Crusader and Zionist forces know that Muslims will not allow their gangster policies.

A number of Ulama (scholars), led by Saeed Noori, announced that they are ready to become human shields in order to stop the American aggression against Iraq.

Raza Academy said in a statement, "the sheer arrogance of the U.S. and its total disregard of the mechanisms of the international community, particularly the United Nations, and its unilateral threat to (invade) Iraq and in fact to the entire region is unprecedented since the totalitarian regimes of Hitler and his allies."

The statement said the U.S. is trying to force the notion of “might is right” giving a go-by to the rule of moral behavior and rule of law.

Mumbai Muslims pelt the American "devil" with stones

The statement went on to say, "We Indians condemn the evil designs of Bush and warn the American administration of serious consequences if it unfolds its plan of attacking Iraq in order to fulfill its evil desires of supremacy over the world with the capture of Iraqi oil wells."

The statement stressed that the aim of the demonstration is to show the world that "the Iraqi brothers and sisters are not alone in this war of injustice" and that the world stands shoulder to shoulder with them at every step.

The statement added that "by stoning the three devils (America, Britain and Israel) we want the world to see the fate of the enemies of peace, the enemies of Islam. The sacred ritual of stoning the devils is performed only in the holiest cities of Islam at the time of Hajj. But the “modern devils”, the “Axis of Evil” have compelled us to stone them here in India and everywhere around the world."