For the first time in Bombay’s history, Muslim religious leaders representing virtually every sect came together on Thursday evening to condemn the serial bomb blasts in the city as a “barbaric”, “inhuman” and “cowardly” act. “We teach in our madrassas that you have to be a decent human being first before you can call yourself a Muslim. How can an act which is inhuman ever be considered to be Islamic?” said Maulana Gulzar Azmi, national council member of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind. “We are one with all citizens of Bombay and the country in condemning such wanton acts of terror, expressing our solidarity with the family members of the victims and we share their grief and sorrow,” said Maulana Mustaqim Azmi, member, Ulema Council.They were addressing a press conference jointly with other senior Muslims representing the Jamiat-ul-ulema-e-Hind, Ulema Council, Milli Council, Jamaat-e-Islami, All-India Sunni Jamiat-ul-Ulema, All India Sunni Tablighi Jamaat, All-India Qazi Board and Bombay Aman Committee among others. The maulanas expressed their readiness to extend the fullest cooperation to the Bombay police in their efforts to identify and nab the perpetrators of the dastardly act. They also announced their plan to visit the homes of the bereaved families in the coming days to share their sorrow and offer help.
After the press conference, the religious leaders had an hour-long meeting with CPM MPs Sitaram Yechuri and Brinda Karat. “Terrorism has no religion,” one of the Muslim leaders told the Communist leaders while several others reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorist acts.
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