A Disgrace to the Victims ‘I Was There
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paigaam publications @paigaam2 IMWS57 01924 500 565 [email protected] Voice of Issue 246 September 2013 / Shawwal 1434 FREE Tri-Lingual Monthly Magazine Est 1993 Modi invitation: A disgrace to the victims ‘I was there. Narendra Modi said let the people vent their anger’ Former IPS offi cer Sanjiv Bhutt Over two thousand Muslims he government and the opposition have been heavily criticised of putting corporate gains ahead of justice and brutally murdered including three Thuman rights violation in inviting Gujarat Chief Minister men from Batley. Witnesses saw Narendra Modi to address the House of Commons. The invitation by the ‘Labour Friends of India’ and the ‘Con- women and children being burnt servative Friends of India’ has been viewed as an insult to the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, including the brutal murder of alive. More than 200 masjids de- three British citizens from Batley. stroyed. Eleven years on families Modi is widely believed to have given the green light to the murder of thousands of Muslims in the state of Gujarat during are still �ighting for justice. the riots. In 2011 IPS o cer Sanjiv Bhutt signed an a davit Modi has never been cleared of in- saying he was present at a meeting held at Modi’s residence where the Gujarat minister told the o cers not to stop the riots volvement and our politicians send and allow (Hindu extremists) ’ to vent their anger’. Bhutt has since been dismissed from his position at the de- him an invite to address mands of the Gujarat government. our Parliament. ...continued on page 5 Hajj Visa Restrictions Over £65k Raised *Inside Increased During Ramadhan p11 p6 An-Nisa centre pages plus writing competition! 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As they crossed the border into ary to economic links with Gujarat adding, Gujarat their vehicle was surrounded by “This concerns me greatly, as does the in- P9 One in three transferred from an angry mob fuelled with religious ha- vitation from two backbench MPs asking mid wife led unit tred. Sakil, Saeed, Mohammed and their Modi to the UK to speak to Parliament. Hindu driver were all brutally murdered. “This will be seen as a crass and insensi- P9 Local exam success Imran, though stabbed by the mob, sur- tive invitation that will resonate nowhere vived. more strongly than here in Batley. P10 The Legal Column The Gujarat police never conducted a “I will be asking questions of my col- scene of crime investigation and it was leagues in Parliament and raising my con- P10 Taking the air waves by storm the persistence of the victim’s family and cerns with the Home Secretary and the the Foreign O ce that led to the victim’s Speaker.” P11 Hajj visa remains being found. The victim’s families A spokes person for DFJC told Paigaam restrictions increased have been ghting for justice through the Modi’s visit was inevitable, but the public Dawood Family Justice Campaign (DFJC). in large numbers needs to hold peaceful P11 MP refutes retirement rumour A criminal case ruling against individuals protests to show their utter disgust at the accused of the crime was due to be de- invitation, P12 Are you spiritually cleansed? livered three months ago, but has been “When Modi comes to the UK the good delayed inde nitely. people should attend mass peaceful dem- P13 Shaykul Hadith Moulana The DFJC have also been ghting a civil onstrations to make our voices heard. Fazlur Rahman Azmi case against Modi and senior government “The public have a responsibility and ministers, which has kept Modi in the by remaining silent we have ourselves al- P14 Egypt – Islamic democracy spotlight and possibly prevented further lowed this to happen. Modi is desperate instigation of communal riots. Contents to improve his international image and isn’t dead of the civil case have also been shared we must show the truth that is behind with the British Government. him and groups such as the RSS and Shiv P14 Palestinians threaten to take A number of cases surrounding the Shena all of whom have a very right wing Israel to UN 2002 Gujarat riots are still being investi- fascist ideology and have blood on their gated and Modi’s involvement has never hands.” P23 The Modern Inventor been wiped clean. P24 Kids Corner IMWS Protests against Modi’s invitation P25 Health page: Back pain IMWS have launched a petition expressing serious concerns at Nerendra P26 – P30 Gujarati pages Modi’s invitation to address the House of Commons. Supported by ve other national organisations, the petition demands the invitation is withdrawn and P31-32 Urdu pages Modi is continued to be refused a visa to visit the UK. IMWS also held a meeting with Mike Wood MP where strong local and na- tional feelings against Modi’s visit were shared. Mr Wood con rmed he had already sent an email asking MP for Brent North Barry Gardiner, who IMWS Tel: 01924 500 555 sent the invitation and part of ‘Labour Friends of India’, to withdraw the email: [email protected] invitation. Mr Wood was also asked to protest against Modi’s planned address to Sports: 07968 222 886 the House of Commons and ask the Speaker of the House, John Bercow, to prevent it. www.imws.org.uk The petition was circulated across local masjids and supported by: Batley; Lancashire Council of Mosques, Blackburn; Indian Muslim As- Imws Al Hikmah sociation, Leicester; Federation of Indian Muslim Association, Midlands; Council of Indian Muslims and London Federation of Indian Muslim Or- @imws1 ganisations. September 2013 5 Articles Local generosity IMWS IFTAAR PROJECT 2013 Organisation Total £ raises over £65k IMWS 6732.57 during Ramadhan Masjid E Noor 2029.00 he IMWS and its member masjids raised generous amounts ICWA 5074.88 Ttotalling over £50,000 for worthy causes in the run up to MPIT 2535.00 Ramadhan and the holy month itself. The organisation ran an Iftar project designed to raise money Dawatal Islam 145.00 to help Muslims in need in war-torn Syria. Funds were raised from the 15th Shabaan till the 15th of Ram- Noor Ul Islam 320.00 adhan with all the money donated forwarded onto the project Ilaahi Masjid 1358.20 in two bursts. In total £18,500 were raised by IMWS and its a liated masjids Masjid E Mahmoodiya 0.00 for the Iftar appeal. The rst distribution took place at the start- General Fund 305.35 ing of Ramadhaan and the second from 15 Ramadhan. The collection started early to ensure that all the money could TOTALS 18,500 be used to help Syrian brothers and sisters break fasts in the refugee camps, where they have sought a safe haven from the brutality of the con ict. IMWS SADQATUL FITR 2013 Over £8104.28 was raised in Sadqatul Fitr as well. Half of this was sent to Gambia whilst the other half went to Assam. Organisation Total £ There was also a general collection that took place over Ra- madhan, during appeals at local masjids, which raised over IMWS 405.25 £38,823.48, of which over £880 was collected at the Taraweeh Masjid E Noor 1965.00 which took place at the IMWS Al-Hikmah Centre. This year saw two taraweeh salaats held at the Al-Hikmah Centre with more ICWA 1139.35 than 400 people attending throughout the month. MPIT 1818.60 The taraweeh prayer gave an opportunity to some 12 Hu az, who recited the holy Quran beautifully and made the com- Dawatal Islam 779.95 munity proud. IMWS hope to build on this year’s success next Noor Ul Islam 120.00 year. The generosity from our local community has yet again been Ilaahi Masjid 986.50 fantastic, and shows the compassion we have for those in need. Masjid E Mahmoodiya 889.63 But with continued updates of con icts leaving families in dire need around the world, it’s even more important to continue TOTALS 8104.28 assisting IMWS in helping those victims, many of who are wom- en and children.