Statement by the Chair of British Kashmiri Women Council

Birmingham: As Chair of the British Kashmiri Women Council I am saddened and disappointed at Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi’s recent hate speech in which he maligned respected British Muslim scholars of Indian origin. In particular I am shocked at him mentioning the name of Huzoor Allama Qamaruzzaman Azmi Sahib in his attack.

Allama Azmi Sahib is one of the great scholars who speaks strongly against injustices across the world without fear or favour. He spoke powerfully during this month’s Eid & Juma Khutbas against India’s revocation of Article 370 and 35A.

I understand that Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi is from Birmingham. I have lived in Birmingham all my life and have been campaigning to promote peace and harmony in communities and about the plight of Kashmiris for many years. Yet I have never heard of Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi. Nor have I ever seen Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi at any of the hundreds of demonstrations or public meetings on Kashmir that I have attended and organized across the UK over the years. I did not even see him at last week’s Kashmir demonstrations in his own home city of Birmingham nor did he attend the massive demonstration in London.

Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi is not a Kashmiri and yet he is using my people’s sufferings to promote himself. This is both shameful and deplorable. He is also using my people’s suffering to promote racism & hatred against British Muslim scholars of Indian origin. This is both contrary to Islamic teachings & illegal in the UK.

I wish to not only publicly condemn Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi’s comments in the strongest manner but also distance our Kashmiri community from his hate filled speech. Our aim is to promote peace and harmony not hatred and racism.

India has 200 million Muslims who are treated as second class citizens and demonised by the Modi government. Yet Indian Muslims are demonstrating in different cities across India, Europe, Canada and America to promote peace and harmony, speak up for justice and stand by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in solidarity, even at risk to themselves and their families in India.

As Chair of British Kashmiri Women Council I join hundreds of scholars, organisations and key figures of all backgrounds to call on Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi to immediately retract his slander and apologise publicly for this hate speech. I wish to make it clear that if he doesn’t, Maulana Misbahul Malik Luqmanvi may be reported to the relevant authorities for inciting hatred, as I fear individuals could be inspired to take violent action against our respected British Muslim scholars of Indian origin because of his hate speech.

Our struggle is one based on equality, justice and love of all humanity and hatred for none.
We will always promote peace and harmony and will not tolerate this kind of hate filled speech in the name of our Kashmiri community.

Rana Shama Nazir, Chair of British Kashmiri Women Council, 17th August 2019

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Twitter: @rananazir