Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik on Friday said ulema and religious scholars are most esteemed but they should stop fringe among their ranks from spreading hate among Muslims. He said Kashmiris are being “slaughtered” at ceasefire line (LoC) but international community seems to maintain slumber.
He also said Kashmiri inmates are being subjected to “worst kind of state oppression” in jails and police stations. Malik was speaking to people at Masjid Bilal at the Bund. The funeral prayers of JKLF activist Naeem Butt was also held at the Bund park. Also JKLF leaders and activists led by zonal president Noor Muhammad Kalwal held peaceful protest at Lal Chowk against plight of Kashmiri prisoners languishing in various jails, a party statement issued to GNS said. While addressing people at Masjid Bilal, JKLF chairman expressed his dismay over the growing intolerance and hate speeches by some religious preachers especially on social media saying “these people through their hate speeches are widening the gap between various sects of Muslims and are hence tarnishing the unity among our ranks and files”.
He said ulema and religious scholars are most valued in our society but this reverence brings more responsibilities on their shoulders. “They should stop fringe elements among their ranks from spreading hate among Muslims through their speeches and sermons because this growing menace is responsible for widening the gap between various sects of Muslims and in no way is in the interest of our Ummah,” he said.
JKLF chairman said this hate mongering has risen to an alarming height now and these preachers have started showering abuses on one another, calling for fiery debates and even at occasion are indulging in calling others infidel and non-Muslim.
“This state of affairs is not acceptable to us as it is detrimental to our unity and cohesiveness and if these hate mongers don’t stop immediately, nation will have no choice but to boycott them all,” Malik warned. While condemning the ongoing massacre of Kashmiris on LoC (Ceasefire Line), JKLF chairman said that Kashmiris living on both “forcibly separated sides” of Kashmir alongside the ceasefire line (LOC) are bearing the brunt of the “criminal silence” maintained by the international community and its failure to resolve Kashmir dispute. While condemning the “ongoing oppression” unleashed by India and its “stooges” on Kashmiri inmates, Malik said that scores of prisoners have been shifted to jails in Jammu and even some have been shifted to Tihar Jail.
“India is using every barbaric tactic to suppress Kashmiri voices and use of NIA intimidation is also part of this oppression,” he said, adding, “Our business and economy is also being targeted by Indian rulers with the active help of their Kashmiri stooges which is also part of this colonial onslaught by India.”