NEEDLE OF SUSPICION: TARGETING MUSLIMS IN TERROR CASES The arrest of 11 Muslim youth in Karnataka on 29th August 2012 for allegedly being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate prominent politicians and two journalists from Bangalore created a big stir in Karnataka particularly because most of the accused were in their twenties and highly educated professionals like journalists, doctors, scientists and IT professionals. This prompted the media to project the accused as representing the ‘the new face of terror’. The family members and friends of the accused suspected foul play since the manner of their arrest and the police version of the arrests lacked credibility. This doubt was confirmed when three of the accused, journalist Muthi-urRahman Siddiqui, Mohammed Yusuf Nalbandh and junior scientist Aejaz Ahmed Mirza, were released six months after their arrest and incarceration. While charge sheets could not be filed against the first two for lack of evidence, the latter was released on bail as per the orders of the special NIA court. The arrests of Muslims as terrorists and their subsequent release have almost become a regular exercise in India, leading to the common perception popularized by the Sangh Parivar through statements like, ‘All Muslims may not be terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims’. As if to reinforce this stereotype, the media go overboard while reporting the arrests but seem suffer from some sort of amnesia when many of them are acquitted after several years. Journalists like K.K. Shahina and Naveen Soorinje who have covered this issue in depth have had cases hoisted against them, fighting legal battles as a punishment for doing their duty as ethical journalists. Thus the stigma of being accused of being a terrorist continues to haunt them even after they are declared innocent by the courts. In Karnataka, around 43 Muslims have been accused and detained in various jails across the country on charges of being part of a terrorist group. Many of those accused have been acquitted for want of evidence. What happens to these ‘terror accused’ after their release? How does society, particularly members of their own community, view them? Do they get to continue their education or get back their jobs? What about the trials and tribulations faced by their family? What about the loss – financial and otherwise – they would have undergone during their long period of incarceration in jails? What about their right to live with dignity? We invite all those concerned about justice and the right to live with dignity to attend a discussion on this important and urgent issue. Three of those acquitted in the so-called Bangalore “terror module” case will speak about their experiences. A recent fact-finding report on Muslim youth in Hubli and Belgaum falsely implicated in terror cases will also be released. Manisha Sethi from the Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association (JTSA) will address the gathering.
VENUE: Institute of Agricultural Technologists (IAT), Queens Road (near Congress party office), Bangalore DATE: Saturday, 6th April 2013, 3 pm to 7 pm
ORGANISERS: PUCL(K), PDF, KKSV, APCR, NCHRO, ALF, SICHREM, PRV, NWMI, MARAA, PEDEPICS, ANEKA, SANGAMA, VIMOCHANA, CONCERN (IISC), INDIAN SOCIAL INSTITUTE AND LESBIT
