Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: The religious leaders from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, wrote a letter today to Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking immediate action against a priest for offensive comments that hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the country.
In the letter, it has been stated that freedom of speech is a fundamental right in any democratic society, “but it cannot be a license to spread hate and cause deep hurt to the religious sentiments of an entire community.”
The religious leaders continued: “India is a land of many religions and ethnicities, where respect for all religions should be paramount. Such remarks are not only offensive but also divisive and pose a threat to communal harmony and peace.”
They further explained that they are writing to bring attention to a deeply concerning issue that has affected the sentiments of millions of Muslims across India and abroad.
“The inflammatory and defamatory remarks made by Yati Narsinghanand, targeting the Holy Prophet Muhammad have caused severe emotional distress to the Muslim community and created the potential for widespread unrest,” the letter stated.
The top figures from different schools of thought urged the Government of India to take appropriate legal action against Yati Narsinghanand for his “hate-filled comments, in accordance with the law and constitution of the land, and to respect the sanctity of our faith.”
The letter was signed by Maulvi Umar Farooq (Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir), Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam (Grand Mufti), Molana Rehmatullah Qasimi (Darul Uloom Raheemiyah), Aga Syed Hassan Al Moosvi (Anjuman Sharie Shian), Dr. Abdul Lateef Al Kindi (Jamiat Ahlihadees), Moulana Ghulam Rasool Hami (Karwan-i-Islami), Molana Masroor Abbas Ansari (Itihaadul Muslimeen), Mufti Inayatullah Qasmi (Imam Jama Masjid Jammu), Sheikh Sadiq Rajai (Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, Kargil), Sheikh Nazir Mehdi (Jamiatul Ulema Kargil), Moulana Umar Nadwi (Jama Masjid Leh), and all other members and constituents of Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (J&K)/Muslim Personal Law Board.
The letter to the Home Minister stated that immediate and firm action in this matter will send a strong message that hate speech and incitement to violence have no place in a civilized society.
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