Chennai: Prominent ulema from across India have ‘unequivocally’ condemned the cowardly massacre of over 132 innocent students inside the ‘inviolable space’ of a school in Peshawar. “What saddens us most is, this ruthless crime was carried out in the name of Islam, which means peace, and whose Prophet was an embodiment of compassion”, said a statement from the ulema of Muslim scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law.

“We have no doubt whatsoever that depraved criminals who justify the shooting of innocent children at point blank range in the name of Islam are not Muslims. It is not enough to condemn their inhumanity. The brutish dogma that allows them to indulge in extreme violence and thereby defame Islam must also be strongly condemned”, they said.

“We appeal to all Muslims to speak out against extremist interpretations of religion. This is the only way to eliminate Islamophobia and religious fanatics at the same time”, they said.

Pointing out that Islam prohibits Muslims from attacking women, children and the elderly even during war, they said, “The Quran makes it very clear in the fifth chapter that if anyone kills an innocent human being it shall be as if he had killed all mankind (5:32). In the same chapter Muslims are warned: “O Believers! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing; let not hatred for any community cause you to deviate from justice” (5:8).”

The ulema said what the brutal act of Tehreek-e-Taliban was “most unIslamic, unjust and barbaric and therefore, unforgivable”. It was not just an attack on students but an attack “on the very idea of education”, said the ulema while offering sincere prayers for the innocents killed and heartfelt condolences to their families.

The signatories the ulema statement included Maulana Hafeezur Rahman Omeri, Omerabad (Tamilnadu), Maulana Abdul Khaliq Nadvi, Chennai, Ghulam Mohammed Mehdi, Chief Khazi (Shia), Tamil Nadu, Maulana Waris Mazhari, Dept of Islamic Studies, MANUU, Hyderabad, Maulana Mohammad Muzaffar, President, Milli Council, Bangalore and Maulana R. K. Noor Madni, Jami’at Ahl-e-Hadith, Chennai.

In Chennai, the ‘Islamic Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought’ too ‘strongly’ condemned the “inhuman massacre” in Peshawar by the “barbaric Tehreek-e-Taliban”.
“By no stretch of imagination the savages who perpetrated this horrific crime could be called Muslims”, said the forum in a statement issued by its secretary general A. Faizur Rahman while expressing deepest condolences for the victims.