KOZHIKODE: The IUML’s fight against Muslim fundamentalism has been caught between Samastha and Salafi (Mujahid) sects, both indispensable for the party at the moment. The dilemma is that Samastha, which is the IUML’s core vote bank has a declared stand that Salafism spread extreme ideology among Kerala Muslims. IUML cannot agree to Samastha in toto as several of its leaders have a Salafi background. Besides, the party is apprehensive that with the BJP at the Centre, the probe against Salafi-run school and speakers could expand to other Muslim establishments.
“The case against Peace School and the targeting of religious speakers are part of an agenda. The probe agencies are dancing to the tunes of NDA,” IUML state general secretary K.P.A. Majeed alleged. Peace School is being run by M.M. Akbar, who belongs to the Salafi group of Kerala Nadv-athul Mujahideen (KNM), the official faction.
KNM leadership had approached the IUML to kick start a full-fledged campaign against targeting Salafists in the name of fundamentalism, with the involvement of all the sects of the Muslim community. However, the attempt failed as Samastha was reluctant to back KNM. Samastha’s cold response prompted the IUML to meet the Chief Minister on its own, on Monday. According to Samastha, Salafism is one of the causes of fundamentalism being rooted here.
“Our youth organisation, SYS had kick started a campaign against fundamentalism under the banner, ‘Fascism, Salafism, Fundamentalism’. It says all,” said Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ula-ma secretary, Kottumala Bappu Musliyar. Samastha’s against against KNM increased after legislator K.M. Shaji wrote an edit piece in a vernacular daily relieving Salafism off the fundamentalism charges. “We have a strong protest against the article by Mr Shaji. It has been conveyed to the IUML leadership and they had openly disowned him,” Bappu Musliyar told. But Samastha is also treading cautiously as it also fears that the silence on Peace School issue might bolster agencies to expand the probe to several institutions run by it.
