Samastha foils IUML's pro-Salafism stand

MALAPPURAM: The Muslim League in the state is in a bind. The party's attempt to thwart an anti Salafism campaign of the majority Sunni community went in vain. Rejecting an unofficial diktat from the Muslim League, the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) and Samstha Kerala Sunni Students' Federation (SKSSF) went ahead with their planned campaign against Islamic State and Salafism.

Both the SYS and SKSSF are the offshoots of Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema, the supreme council of Sunni scholars in the state and a major vote bank of the League. "The pro Salafi section of the Muslim League top leadership is uncomfortable with the use of the word Salafism which comes at par with IS in our campaign. They had tried to stop us from going ahead with the three-month long campaign named 'IS, Salafism, Fascism', but we refused to do so," says a top SYS leader.

"The traditional Muslim leaders have taught us well how to handle a critical situation when a section of youth from the community detract to extreme ends," he said. It is learnt that the League leadership has directed its mouthpiece 'Chandrika' daily to avoid the word Salafism while covering the news of the Samastha's anti Salafism campaign throughout the state.

"The League has always tried to protect the Mujahid factions who follow Salafism during many issues in the past and kept mum while the negative approach of Mujahids hurt the majority Sunnis," the highly placed source who did not want to be named told this newspaper.

Many in the Samastha leadership have expressed their discontent in the League's soft stand towards Salafism and open support to Salafi preacher Dr Zakir Naik. The clash has put the Muslim League visibly in a fix as the campaign is all set to reach every nook and corner in its second phase after the ongoing district level meets.