Hundreds of Muslims—men, women and children—came out on the streets of Mumbai on Sunday to denounce the recent terror strikes and the portrayal of a “distorted image of Muslims in the name of Islam’’. The rallyists, including members of the entertainment industry, also made it clear that the “killers of innocents were enemies of Islam’’ and the “enemies of India were enemies of Muslims too’’. On Sunday afternoon, the community members took out a silent march from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to the seafront near the Oberoi-Trident—both of which were targeted during the 26/11 terror strikes. The rally passed through Churchgate en route to its destination. Similar protest walks, condemning outfits and organisations such as the al-Qaida, ISI, Taliban, LeT, SIMI and Huji, were simultaneously held in cities like Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Indore, Hyderabad and Delhi. “We disown and denounce all those who kill in the name of jihad. Terrorists are fascists and enemies of Muslims as Islam doesn’t preach killing of innocents,’’ said poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar. He said the 26/11 attacks were unprecedented and aimed at the dignity of the country. “Fascists are those who distort religion. There are bad elements in all religions. On 26/11, they didn’t just place bombs and run, they entered our buildings, killed people and held hostages. No religion preaches the killing of innocents,’’ he said.Akhtar also said 26/11 changed the psyche of Indians. “For the first time, I have seen tears in so many eyes and people with so much grief,’’ he added. Perhaps for the first time, liberal Muslims were joined by clerics from organisations such as the Jamiat-ul-Ulema in expressing their anger at individuals and outfits who have hijacked Islam. Actor Javed Jaffrey said Muslims had to speak out because “after all, it was Islam that was being maligned’’. “There is nothing called Islamic terrorism. Islam is being misinterpreted by some groups. They kill people in the name of jihad. A religion that asks its members to greet each other with ‘Assalamu Alaikum (peace be with you)’ could never sanction the killing of innocents,’’ he said. The rally passed through D N Road, Hutatma Chowk, the road next to Churchgate station and ended near the Oberoi-Trident. Banners and placards with slogans such as “Declare Pakistan a terrorist state’’ and “Close terror camps at once’’ clearly reflected the mood.Javed Anand of Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD), the man who galvanised several groups and individuals for Sunday’s peace march, said terrorists had misused the name of Islam for too long. It was the duty of every Muslim to call the bluff of individuals and organisations that spread terror and violence in the name of Islam, he declared. Actor Farooq Sheikh voiced similar opinions. “Terrorists are Muslims’ number one enemy,’’ he said. Many protesters came from places such as Bhiwandi and Mumbra.
