The session has just started. Please, send us your questions.
After the session has ended, you can view the whole dialogue by clicking Recent Sessions, or the archive.
Yours,
Politics in Depth
Answer
.
Name
Amrintiduos
-
Profession
Question
Salam Alikom,
What is the probability that Hindu nationalistic personnel carried out such attack?
Answer
Dear friend, it is still too early to say who is behind this terrorist act.
But one thing is clear: the Hindu organizations, which were facing a daily barrage of revelations about their terrorist activities in various parts of the country, must breathe easy for some time as media here again will start talking about "Islamic terrorism", although there is no concrete evidence that any organized Islamic terrorist activity is taking place in India.
Name
Soliman
-
Profession
Question
What is the stance of your organization on these shameful criminal acts? Do you think the perpetrators are really Muslims or there may be some foreign intelligence agencies that are working for their agendas in India?
Answer
We unreservedly condemn these shameful acts. We cannot give clean chit to anyone at this stage as we are waiting for the results of the official investigations. We will condemn them with the same force if the perpetrators were Muslims.
But Hindu terrorists too may be responsible and it is quite possible, rather it has been said here time and again, that foreign agencies like CIA and Mossad, may be behind some of these terrorist acts but somehow until a month ago the security agencies were so obsessed with "Islamic terrorism that they did not look into other possible causes of terrorist incidents in India and focused only on Muslims.
For the last one month, starting from 26 October, the security agencies had started looking at Hindu terrorists and found that many of the terrorist incidents in recent years were in fact perpetrated by them extremely cleverly so that whatever happened only Muslims were blamed.
Name
Muhammed Saudi
-
Profession
Question
Salam,
How far is the claims that quickly said the attacks were carried out by Muslims correct?
Answer
Actually until a month ago this was the way security agencies and media in India treated every blast: after minutes and within hours of any blast, Muslims were accused.
But I think now that we know a lot about the activities of Hindu terrorist organizations and their crimes, we can withstand such accusations.
Name
Leo of Tripoli
-
Profession
Question
Those who carried out the attacks are young people wearing t-shirts and carrying up European-made guns. How do you explain this? Do you think that there is really something called "Deccan Mujahedeen"?
Answer
I still do not think that this is a real name. It seems some other group or people are behind this name.
As far as the dress is concerned, this does not mean much as the weather in Mumbai at present is pleasant and not cold as is the case in the north.
Name
Ammad
-
Profession
Student
Question
Salam Alaikum,
I can understand Hindi, and what I found in this news that these terrorists were saying that all over the world Muslims have to stand and Islam is the religion of peace, but still they killed 100s' of innocent people, and do not regret this shameful act. They said it's a jihaad, we all Muslims have to do this...
what do you say about this?
Answer
If they are Muslims and they really think that they can kill innocent people in the name of Islam, they are clearly misguided like Takfir Wal Hijra, Al-Jihad and al-Qaeda people of today and Khawarij of the past.
This is not Islam. No religion, let alone Islam the religion of peace, gives you license to kill innocent people.
But we still do not know the identities of these people. Let us wait some time before we offer an opinion of this kind.
Name
Amera Tajudeen
-
Profession
Question
What will be the reaction of the Indian government towards Muslims in India, do you expect that these attacks will affect the Muslim community?
Answer
Even if we accept that this terrorist act was indeed the handiwork of some Muslims, you cannot make all Muslims of India responsible for the same.
This is not the policy of the government of India now or ever was in the past. Only Hindu extremists who are represented by the RSS and its political wing, BJP hold such ideas.
Name
Tomasz
-
Profession
Question
As-Salamu 'Alaykum:
A word of warning first. The US media is on a mission to try to connect this to Pakistan or Afghanistan. They must be trying to get Indian troops in those places so they don't have to do something unpopular, like increasing the US troop amount.
Secondly, from the reports I have heard: The Taj Mahal hotel (I believe this was the one being talked about) ten days before this attack removed security equipment.
InshaAllah the truth of this matter will be revealed. There are those calling this Indian 9-11; there have been many actions cited by scholars of the event it is being likened to that indicate that the US Government carried out 9-11 or they made the conditions ripe that day for an attack.
Allahumma Yahdinee jamee'a
Answer
We do not rule out the possibility you talk about but it is far-fetched that any Indian government will dare to send troops outside the country to serve colonial interests of other powers.
The only exception is to send Indian troops on UN peace keeping missions. The previous government led by the BJP badly wanted to send troops to Iraq but the Indian parliament, media and public opinion did not allow it to do so.
Name
Iman
-
Profession
consultant
Question
What sort of repercussions can we expect as Muslims due to this attack?
Answer
Security agencies and media will return to their "Muslim" fixation and Hindu extremist groups will start blurting out their propaganda of lies which says that "All Muslims are not terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims".
Name
Mahmoud
-
Profession
Student
Question
As-Salamu Alakum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu.
Can you please tell me what are some of the terrorist attacks that Hindu's have carried out against the Muslims in India. And if the ones who carried such attacks are Muslims, what they did is okay or not and why? and how can we explain such a thing to non-Muslims in the west?
Answer
The only proven terrorist act done by Indian Muslims was the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai on 12 March 1993 which came as an act of revenge for demolishing the Babri Masjid and the two incidents of communal or anti-Muslim riots in Mumbai in December 1992 and January 1993.
It is indicative of the biased approach of Indian security agencies that while they doggedly pursed the cases against the accused in Bombay serial blasts of 1993, they did nothing against those responsible for the riots of Dec. 1992 or January 1993.
Likewise, they failed until this day to take any action against those who demolished the Babri Mosque which is seen as the beginning of terrorism in India.
Other than the March 1993 blasts, there is no concrete proof that Muslims perpetrated any act of terror but the possibility remains that some small Muslim group or individuals resorted to terrorism, especially after the pogroms of Gujarat in 2002.
As regards the terrorist acts of Hindu terrorists, there are many in fact: like the blasts in Nanded, blasts in Parbhani, Malegaon, Kanpur, Thane, Tenkasi, Kunnur etc.
The security agencies had just started seriously investigating these terrorist incidents when the current incident occurred and this will, no doubt, lead to re-focusing the current investigations.
Name
Kiya
-
Profession
Question
Assalamu Alakium
It seems highly suspect that an "Islamic Terrorist" group was behind the attacks in Mumbai, India. I find it ironic that two months ago to this day, President-Elect Barack Obama mentioned that he'll finish the job of hunting for Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan. Also Vice-President Elect Joe Biden mentioned (I'm paraphrasing here) "that there will be a catastrophe that will test Obama's national security experience". He then went on to say that "the world will see that this guy (Obama) is as tough as iron".
With those statements by Obama and Biden being made only some two-three months prior to this “Islamic terrorist" incident, it makes me question the agenda of the United States government. Furthermore, major news channels such as FOX and CNN, are broadcasting this horrific tragedy continuously at all times of day.
It's almost like they want to reinforce in the Western people the false belief that Islam is bad and Muslims are violent. Alhumdudilah I am a Muslimah and as an American residing in the States, I can't help but feel frustrated by pacts of lies, deceit, and fear-tactics.
My question to you is what do you believe is going on and am I perhaps too paranoid in my opinions against such political agendas? Also do you believe these are acts constructed by the CIA as a form of a fear tactic?
My heart and du'aas go for the innocent Indian and other civilians who have lost their lives for such nonsense regardless of whether these acts are by Hindu people or Islamic terrorists.
Jazakalah Kaire'een.
Answer
First of all, I do believe that in substance President Obama will not be different from any other American president in living memory. After all, Clinton too was lobbing rockets and bombs at will into Afghanistan and Sudan.
The possibility that CIA and Mossad are behind at least planning the current terrorist incident in Mumbai cannot be ruled out until we have all the details about the terrorist who executed it.
Likewise, there is a possibility that terrorist groups based in Pakistan are behind this in order to frustrate current efforts to mend fences between India and Pakistan.
A third possibility is that Hindu terrorist groups are behind this crime. After all, this is election time here in India and nothing solidifies the extremist Hindu vote bank like violence which allows the BJP to claim that India is safe only in its hands and that Muslims are a menace to the security and well-being of India which of course is big fat lie.
Name
Cracker Whacker
-
Profession
Question
It is now being reported authoritatively that the terrorists arrived on a Pakistani cargo vessel from Karachi.
Will this have any impact on future ocean cruises between these two countries?
Answer
This is only an unconfirmed report. Four Indian navy ships and a number of helicopters are searching for such a ship and as far as we know it has not located them until now.
Name
Imran
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Brothers & Sisters, Asalamu Alaikum,
No doubt such an act is not right and condemned. However, like it has been stated many times, we do not know the exact perpetrators. The news continuously blame the Muslims and now aiming it at Pakistan.
In the world of Globalisation for economic and military strength, groups such as Mossad and CIA are sure behind many terrorist attacks across the world. The result, to weaken the Muslim Ummah. Why? To disunite us because we clearly seek the Laws of ALLAH to be established upon our land.
To best tool used to change peoples minds against Islam is to bring fear to masses. A tool which Hitler purposely used when the Reichstag building was 'attacked'. Throughout the years that same tactic has been used and maybe this is yet another 'tool' used in Mumbai.
Allah (SWT) Knows Best.
Answer
May be.
Name
Muslim Arabian
-
Profession
Question
Salam Dr. Zafarul-Islam,
US often carry out strikes in the villages that it suspects Taliban are hiding, and most often that civilians are killed.
In case Taliban is behind this attack, when they are targeting intellegence figures and foreign (American or Israeli) diplomats, troops, officials that India is hosting and civilians are killed ... can this comparison stand?
Why does the world community backed by media justifies the first while the second doesn't deserve any deep thoughts or questioning?
Thanks,
Answer
I do not think that Taliban have time, resources or wherewithal to execute such an operation thousands of kilometres away from their country. They are too busy fighting the occupation forces in their country.
Name
mohammed
-
Profession
Question
Salam. What do I tell my non-muslim friends, on why do some so called muslims act in these ways?
Answer
Tell them that Islam does not teach this kind of deviant behavior. Tell them to look at you and see how well Islam grooms its followers.
A few black sheep in our midst cannot blacken the face of a billion+ community which has a very long history of peace-loving living and coexistence. The centuries when Islam was dominant are witness that there was peace and tranquility in every part of the Muslim world and trade flourished like never before all over the known world.
Tell them that western powers must stop maltreating Muslims, sending troops to our countries, exploiting our resources, helping unjust regimes like Israel at the expense of Muslims and this stop the excuses used by our black sheep to unleash mindless terror.
Name
Editor - Hany Ramadan..
-
Profession
Question
Dear visitors,
The session has ended. We would like to thank Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the dialogue.
We apologize for not being able to answer all the questions due to time limitation.
