The leaders also urged the Indian government to adhere to the country’s time-tested policy on Palestine.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Leaders of the country’s Muslim religious organisations on Thursday called for the restoration of Palestinians’ rights.
In a joint statement, they slammed Israel for its bombardment of Gaza, including hospitals, and its siege of the Palestinian territory, and called on the Indian government to maintain a pro-Palestine policy.
The leaders also called for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza and condemned Israel for the loss of human lives, bombardment of hospitals, and denial of food, water and medicine to inhabitants of the Palestinian territory
“We must remember that the Zionist government has been continuously evicting Palestinians from their homes and land for years and oppressing the native inhabitants of the land,” the joint statement said. “The continuous settlement (of Israelis) in new localities of the Palestinian territories and the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other such aggressive policies is clear violation of international laws. They are the biggest roadblock in the way of sustained peace and order in the region,” it said.
The signatories of the statement were: Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board; Maulana Arshad Madani, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind President; Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind; Maulana Mohammad Ashraf Kichhouchhwi, President of All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board; Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani, Nazim Darul Uloom Deoband; Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mahdi Salafi, President of Jamiat Ahle Hadees; Syed Ahmed Wali Faisal Rahmani, President of Imarat Sharia Bihar; Maulana Syed Tanveer Hashmi, President of Jamat Ahle Sunnat Karnataka; Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, former president of All India Muslim Majlis Mushawirat; Dr. Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, Shahi Imam of Masjid Fatehpuri; Dr. Md. Manzoor Alam, General Secretary All India Milli Council; and Maulana Mohseen Taqwi, Imam Shia Jama Masjid.
“We are deeply concerned about the situation in Palestine, especially in Gaza. We strongly condemn the continuous killing of even children and women, the interruption of food, water, medicine, and electricity supply, and the continuous bombing of populated areas and attempts to evacuate Gaza. There is a need for the international community to act immediately and stop the bloodshed,” the statement said.
The Muslim leaders also urged the Indian government to adhere to the country’s time-tested policy on Palestine, stating, “We also demand the government to continue India’s long-standing anti-colonial and pro-Palestinian foreign policy advocated by Mahatma Gandhi and (reiterated by) Atal Behari Vajpayee, and use its sphere of influence in realising the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
