Hundreds of women on 27 February marched together in protest against the presence of an Islamophobe Tarek Fatah in India and his hatemongering in the historic town of Deoband.
Displaying high standards of Islamic manners and maintaining a dignified silence, the marchers held placards in their hands that read, “Tarek Fatah is a Pakistani agent”; “Down with Tarek Ftah”; “Tarek Fatah, go back”; “Tarek Fatah is a disdained figure”; “Arrest Tarek Fatah”; “Ban Zee News”; “Stop Spreading Sectarianism”; “Arrest Tarek Fatah” and “Long Live Ganga Jamni Culture”.
They walked from Mohalla Abul Barakat, a locality in the vicinity of known Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, to Police Chauki where they handed a 4-point memorandum down to the Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The memorandum, addressed to the President of India and Prime Minister, said, “India is a secular country in the development of which all Indians, regardless of their religious backgrounds, have played an important part. Majority of its citizens believe in living peacefully and share each other’s moments of sadness and happiness.”
It goes on, “We want to bring it to your notice, Your Excellencies, Pakistan does not like this peace, the communal amity and mutual love the people of this country have for each other and the progress this country has made. For this reason it does not miss any opportunity to destroy peace and tranquillity here. Sadly some of our fellow countrymen have fallen prey to the ploy of that ill-wisher.
“Excellencies, we, as true Muslims and true Indians, would like to bring to your notice a weekly programme, “Fatah ka Fatwa” being broadcast on Zee TV in which a Pakistani by the name of Tarek Fatah, has been blurting out misleading and malicious statements about Islam and Muslims. There are several clips on YouTube in which he has uttered blasphemous and baseless statements about Allah, the Qur’ān and the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) which is intolerable for any Muslim. Tarek Fatah is a Pakistani and he could be an ISI agent sent to India to spread mischief.”
The memorandum urges the President and the Prime Minister to, “1) Cancel Tarek Fatah’s Visa; 2) Bar his entry into India; 3) Order the related authorities to file a case against Zee News and its owners for recording and telecasting and continuing a programme that is spreading hatred; 4) Impose immediate ban on this programme, proscribe and destroy all the recordings of this programme so that no other channel can dare allow a Pakistani to spread communal hatred in this country in future.”
The demonstration was organised by the students and staff of a madrasa (seminary), Mahad Aaisha Siddiqa Qasimul Uloom lil Banat, who were joined by hundreds of other residents of the town.
In a separate statement the Head of the madrasa, Ms. Iffat Nadeem, said, “The man being given a celebrity status by Zee TV and tolerated by the Government is on record to have said that he would be happy to see India disintegrate into smaller countries. Any Indian worth his salt would be wondering to know what is behind all this tolerance shown by the authorities so far.”
Ms. Iffat added, “Have all the laws and all the codes of Criminal Procedure Code of India have been waived off for this man who has brazenly alleged, not once but several times, that Muslims gather in mosques on Fridays to pray for the destruction of India. What else can it be except attempting to push the country in the fire of communal hatred and pitch communities against each other.”
She said, “The Government of India should look into the sensitivity of the issue and act immediately before it is too late and this man succeeds in his plan.”
Ms. Iffat also said, “There is restlessness among Muslims at this issue and following the legal procedure they have been trying to file FIRs in various parts of the country but they are being denied the right to take legal recourse. Does it mean laws are only to punish Muslims for the crimes they do not commit but to be denied justice?”
The Muslims campaigning for the ban on Tarek Fatah have made several attempts to file an FIR against Zee TV and Tarek Fatah but faced hurdles; how they have now succeeded in registering one at Khurja Police Station in Bulandshahr.
As per the FIR No 0192, Tarek Fatah and Zee TV have been alleged to have attempted to cause riots, disturbing communal harmony in the country and hurting religious sentiments under Sections 153A, ـ195A, 298, 500, 505, 504 and 120B of Indian Penal Code.