Strong business connections and an undying allegiance to the Assad regime, especially among bankers and the middle class, seem to the reason for the continued stubborn resistance by the ruling Alawite regime to international demands to end the bloodshed!
Even a “chance” confrontation, caused by the downing of a Turkish fighter plane straying in Syrian airspace, has done little to change the heart of the cruel regime.
With Russia, China, Iran and even Israel seemingly quiet, and the US (through the UN) about the only power doing diplomatic duty, the crisis in Syria will not easily be resolved! (A.R. Modak, Johannesburg)
Train derailment
It was shocking news that a Saudi passenger train heading from the Kingdom’s eastern city of Dammam to the capital Riyadh derailed on Wednesday, causing injuries to several passengers. The train journey in Saudi Arabia is very safe and comfortable, and this is the first time that I read about the train accident in Saudi Arabia. I wish all the injured passengers a fast recovery and hope that the Saudi railways will continue its good work as usual.
(Zakaria Sultan, Riyadh)
Illegal arrests of Muslims
The report “Stop illegal arrests of Muslim youth in India” (June 3) is really embarrassing that even after 64 years of India’s independence Muslims are being harassed and tortured by security and police forces for no crimes. India must understand that Muslims had given lot of sacrifices to win India freedom and they have been continuing to do so in free India to put the country on the path of progress. It has been observed that the needle of suspicion always revolve around the Muslims even if there is no apparent reason to do so. Also, it has been proved on many occasions that Hindu fascists groups like RSS, Bajrang Dal etc, were behind the crimes and terrorist attacks but they always go scot-free and unpunished. I do not say all Muslims are saints in India. No, there are some black sheep in the Muslim community, but ascribing every act of terrorism to Muslims is unpardonable. The incidents of 7/11 in Mumbai, Mecca Mosque blast in Hyderabad, Ajmer blast, Aurangabad blast, Samjhauta train blast and many more incidents are the outcome of Hindu fascist groups, but the government does not have the guts to put them behind the bar.
(Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar)
Illegal arrests of Muslims 2
It was shocking to read the recently published article of Aijaz Z.Syed “Death, disappearance and despair in India” in your esteemed paper. The writer has given a number of examples where innocent Indian Muslims were apprehended by the police or security agencies without any evidence and charge sheet. The bizarre killing of Qateel Siddiqui, a 27-year-old resident of Darbhangha, Bihar, mentioned in this eye-opening article has once again turned the spotlight on the silent and insidious campaign against the 200-million Muslim minority of India. “Countless Muslim youths have been picked up at random from around India as “Pakistani agents” or members of Indian Mujahedeen, an outfit that is considered a figment of intelligence agencies imagination,” writes the author. Similarly a few days back, the interview of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic cooperation, (OIC) published in Arab News also highlighted the same problems and misfortunes of the Muslims of India. The Sachar committee report published in 2006, as mentioned in the same interview confirmed that the Muslims in India suffer extremely poor representation in various government jobs and have very limited access to education, health and economic progress.
It is absolutely clear that these are trying times for the Muslims of India. How the Muslim community responds to the challenge could determine its future. The Muslims of India must unite and their leadership must take strong decisions as mere resolutions and profound statements would not take care of the problem. Unfortunately, every wrong thing in India is blamed on people like Qateel Siddiqui/Fasih Mahmood or some Pakistani by the government/media without being charged, let alone found guilty, while no progress is made on a number of murderous attacks on Muslims like the Samjhauta express to Mecca Mosque to Ajmer shrine despite the sensational confessions by swami Assemanand exposing the Hindutva link.
“This isn’t about a suspicious custodial killing here and a mysterious disappearance there. What we are dealing with is a culture of fear and concerted campaign to terrorize and stigmatize a whole community. We face a situation that once the African Americans did — perhaps even worse,” concludes Aijaz Z. Syed. (Babar Mumtaz , By e-mail)
Letters — Brutal Assad regime
