By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 06 Jan 2015: Hyderabad MP and Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi is facing a police case for saying “Every child is born a Muslim. His parents and society convert him to other religions.” Interestingly the complaint has been lodged by another Muslim.
“Islam is the real home of all religions. There is no forced conversion in Islam. It is you who need to come home, but we can’t give you money for that,” Owaisi had reportedly said on Saturday night on the eve of Eid Milad Un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad.
Immediately after the video footages of his statement were aired by TV news channels on Monday, a young Muslim law activist sent a complaint to Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against Owaisi.
“It is quite clear that Owaisi’s intention was to incite people that not only undermines the Rule of Law and system of Justice but is very clearly an offence under the sections listed above and entail criminal prosecution according to law in keeping with the object and purpose of the relevant sections of the IPC, 1860 which have been shown to be contravened by the accused,” said Shehzad Poonawalla in his complaint.
Meanwhile, Lucknow-based eminent cleric Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli has also opposed the statement of Owaisi.
“His statements are objectionable, against the secular fabric of the country,” Mahali was quoted as saying by ANI news agency.
However, many say Owaisi has not violated any rule but indeed his statement is unwise in the communally charged atmosphere of the country.
“Even if one openly invites people to his or her religion, there is nothing wrong in it. There is nothing illegal and unconstitutional in Owaisi’s statement as the Constitution allows one to practise and preach religion of one’s choice. But Owaisi’s call is unwise in the present situation as it may flare up the communal atmosphere of the country, but there is no other objectionable item in his statement,” says Khalid Jaleel, a research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia.
