MUSLIMS URGED TO DEFEAT LOVE-JIHAD PROPAGANDA

The stories being spread by the Sangh Parivar and certain media in the name of the imaginary organisation called ‘Love Jihad’ will affect the social atmosphere of the state, said a joint statement of the leaders of Muslim organisations in Kochi last week. They added that all those concerned should withdraw from such propaganda which is helpful only to communalise the society and to create suspicion in relations. Jihad is one of the fundamental technical terms in Islam but ‘Love Jihad’ is a term coined by extremist Sangh Parivar organisations. The Sangh Parivar has coined this term in order to use it for wrong goals. Portraying the immature love in campuses with the name ‘Love Jihad’ is like offending religious communities. The Kerala government’s affidavit submitted at the High Court, mentioning that there were situations to suspect that the love jihad was there in Kerala, is condemnable, said the leaders. The freedom to accept any faith is a part of the fundamental human rights accepted globally. Approaches that interfere in this fundamental right are nowadays coming up extensively. The civil society and the human rights organisations should intervene to uphold the individual’s right to choose his/her religion or non-religion. Prominent members including T. Arifali (Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Kerala Amir), Hyderali Shihab Thangal (Muslim League President), and P.K Kunhalikkutty (Muslim League General Secretary), signed the joint statement.