The Karnataka government’s decision to introduce a bill against hate speeches and crimes is a very welcome move. It is like a soothing balm in a country plagued by daily occurrences of crimes related to hatred on the basis of caste, creed and religion.
In a civilised society, and as is enshrined in the Constitution, there is no place for such dastardly acts. One hopes that now, the perpetrators of such crimes will learn their lessons and change their mindset to a broader, secular outlook, to live in harmony, tolerance.
Muniraju
Kengeri, Bengaluru
Islamophobia and Its Objective
Islam liberates mankind from the worship of the creations to the worship of only one Allah, the Creator, resulting in their success and redemption in both worlds. The enemies of Islam are often concocting words like Islamophobia, love-Jihad, Islamic fanaticism and Islamic terrorism, aiming to defeat the Islam’s noble goals.
“Islamophobia” is a recent concocted word by the enemies of Islam meaning fear, threat and danger coming from Islam to the humanity. The enemies extremely fear, dislike and oppose Islam as they know it well that if Islamic system of life is established in the world, it would surely eliminate social maladies: alcoholism, gambling, adultery, sadism, nudity, homosexuality, prostitution, corruption, exploitation, concentration of economic power in few hands, murder and genocide, trade of interest, lordship of the stronger over the weaker, etc.
So, the basic objective of Islamophobia is to create fear, hate and panic about Islam in the people’s psyche acting as deterrent to its dissemination and expansion in the world. Now some states in India have passed anti-conversion laws to stop the growth of Muslims. Insha Allah, the enemies will not succeed.
Muhammad Abdus Samad
Ambari,Dhupdhara, Assam
Shame on Dalit Youth’s Death
Dalits have always been at the receiving end as far as injustice is concerned and the police department has done the right thing in suspending four cops in connection with the death of a 22-year-old Dalit youth at a rehab centre in Bengaluru. With torture being alleged in police custody, this is a case we should be thoroughly probed and those responsible for the incident should be handed out exemplary punishment.
Those who are accused of crimes are supposed to be reformed so that they turn into better and nation-loving citizens and they definitely do not deserve to be beaten up or tortured. Such incidents sent out a very poor message about the efficacy of police force.
Nikhil Raja
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Not Anti-Semitic Attack
Fifteen people were killed at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The officials have described the shooting as a targeted anti-Semitic attack. The Bondi Terror attack should be condemned in unambiguous terms. This is not the way to express disagreement. There are other ways to protest. No civilized society can approve such inhuman acts. Law of the land must take its own course.
But the million dollar question is, the term used by the media as “anti-Semitic” does not seem proper. It is historically and linguistically wrong. Semitic religions refer to Jews, Christian and Muslims. The attack on Jewish people can be labelled as “anti-Jewish” and NOT “anti-Semitic”. Both the terms have altogether different meanings. Media should use terms, words, and phraseology very carefully, otherwise they will be held responsible for spreading disinformation and worsening the situation unknowingly and unintentionally. Media reportage should be unbiased.
Our sympathies are with bereaved people irrespective of religion, colour and nationality. (I mean Rohingya people, Gaza people and Jewish people of Sidney Beach.)
Farooq AbdulgafarBawani
Rajkot, Gujarat