Prominent Muslim organisations in India have rejected the announcement by Ayman al-Zawahri, leader of the terrorist organization al Qaeda, regarding the setting up of a terrorist network in South Asia, and especially India. The announcement had been made on jihadi websites on 3 September, and the al Qaeda leader had urged Muslims in India to rise against the “infidels”.
However, the Jamaat-e-Islami, an influential Muslim organization in India has said that the Indian government would deal with the threat. “If the video is indeed genuine, then the Indian state will naturally fight it. Indian Muslims will also fight it. But we are equally concerned about right-wing Hindu as well as Naxal extremism,” Mohammed Ahmed, Jamaat’s political secretary said. Ahmed was of the opinion that India’s Muslims would never recognize ISIS.
Jamaat was established in 1941 by Syed Abul Ala Maududi, to spread Islamic values in the Indian subcontinent. Jamia Millia Islamia professor Rizwan Kaiser was of the opinion that they had been asked too many times exactly what they thought of the new threats posed by terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and now ISIS. “Despite reiteration and disavowing terror again and again, Muslims are still asked their opinion. Al Qaeda at best is a horrible dream. To think of a conscious support from Indian Muslims…that is so preposterous. Muslims are more worried about people like Yogi Adityanath,” he said.
A similar sentiment was put forth by Zafarul-Islam Khan, the president of the Delhi-based organization, AIMMM or All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat. “Muslims of South Asia do not require such meddling in their affairs by a foreign terrorist outfit.”
India is a secular country, though about 80% of its population are adherents of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. India has the third largest population of Muslims and they are the largest minority in the country.