August 10, 2007
Press Statement/Letter to Editor
MSD strongly condemns attack on Taslima Nasreen
Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD) applauds the statements of
several respected maulanas from Mumbai and Delhi strongly
condemning the attack on Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.
While no one must be allowed to take the law in their own hands,
yesterday’s incident in Hyderabad is doubly reprehensible
because law-makers behaved as law-breakers. The attack was led
by three members of the Andhra Pradesh state assembly, belonging
to the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). Through their brazen
misconduct the MLAs of the MIM have shown themselves to be the
“Bajrang Dal of Indian Islam”. Their conduct is no different
from that of the Bajrang Dal’s hounding of M.F. Husain, who,
too, is today effectively in exile.
Some of the maulanas who have condemned the attack have gone on
to reiterate their demand for the expulsion of Ms. Nasreen from
India on the ground that she has repeatedly made provocative
statements against Islam. While fully respecting their right to
express their opinion in peaceful democratic ways, MSD also
fully supports the Indian government’s decision to extend her
visa.
Respecting human rights, which includes the right to freedom of
expression, must mean defending the rights of even those whose
views we might find offensive or hurtful.
Ms Nasreen risks being put to death were she to return to her
own country. Though she possesses a Swiss passport, she prefers
to stay in India because this is where she feels culturally at
home. Granting her a visa is the least a democracy could offer
to a writer forced into exile.
Javed Anand
Sajid Rashid
General Secretary
Vice-President
