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Geelani blasts jazia on Sikhs,
says nothing Islamic about it
WSN Network
SRINAGAR: In a
move that is being seen as significant at a time when one key
separatist leader is fighting the elections and the Hurriyat in
Kashmir has refused to give a call for boycott of polls, Syed Ali
Shah Geelani,
Jammu and
Kashmir’s most hawkish separatist leader and a relentless advocate
of setting up of Islamic rule in the state, has denounced extortions
and killing of innocents in the name of Taliban and Islam in
Pakistan. Geelani, known for his support of Islamic
ways, also
blasted the practice of “jazia” being collected from the Sikhs and
said whatever is happening in
Pakistan in the
name of Islam and Taliban is not permitted by Islam.
Last week, press
reports emanating from Pakistan had said that Sikhs in
Taliban-controlled areas were made to shell out money for their
protection and survival. Replying to a series of questions on the
“collection of jazia” from Sikhs and Sharia law implementation in
Swat
Valley
in the North- Western Frontier Province of Pakistan, Geelani said:
“Islam doesn’t permit oppression and extortion. Every faith and
religion has full freedom, as per Islam.” The separatist leader,
whose undying love for Pakistan is legendary, however, maintained
that “Islamic rule” would be the best
thing to happen
to Jammu
and Kashmir, once it attained “freedom”. “Our religion offers
complete justice and equality to have faith and worship. There is no
room for coercion or oppression,” he said. It is for the first time
that Geelani has spoken on the developments in Pakistan, which has
become a
“playground” for daily suicide attacks.
22
April 2009
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