Islamic scholars, clerics hail death for Kasab
By IANSFriday, May 7, 2010
LUCKNOW - Stating that Islam condemns terrorism in all forms, leading Islamic scholars and clerics Friday welcomed the death sentence for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving gunman captured during the November 2008 Mumbai attack.
Both Shia and Sunni scholars expressed their vehement condemnation of Kasab’s role in the 60-hour mayhem unleashed by him and nine other Pakistani terrorists that killed 166 people Nov 26-28, 2008.
“Terrorism has no place in Islam. Therefore, anyone perpetrating terrorist activities deserves the severest punishment,” observed well-known Shia scholar and Lucknow’s Imam-e-Juma Maulana Kalbe Jawaad.
He said Islam not only denounces all forms of terrorism but even abhors any kind of oppression, injury or atrocities on the human race.
All India Shia Personal Law Board secretary Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi said: “Kasab should be hanged without any delay as that alone would drive home the point that those waging war against India will not go scot free and would receive deterrent punishment.”
“We ought to make it loud and clear to all and sundry that India knows how to deal with all those who indulge in terrorism or abet terrorist activities,” he added.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed, popular Sunni cleric and head of Lucknow’s oldest Islamic seminary, Firangi Mahal, went to the extent of holding an assembly of his students to hail the Mumbai special court’s judgment awarding death sentence to Kasab.
Students dressed in white kurta-pyjamas and matching skullcaps held placards condemning Kasab and hailing the judgment outside the madrassa run by the seminary. Raising pro-India patriotic slogans, they also exchanged sweets at the end of the assembly.
“Islam condemns terrorism in the harshest of words. The verdict has further strengthened everyone’s faith in the Indian judiciary,” the Maulana said.
“The judgment has also sent the message loud and clear that the enemies of the nation would eventually go to the gallows,” he added.
Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani Thursday gave Kasab death sentence on four counts — waging war against India, murder, conspiracy to commit murder and indulging in terrorist activities.
