Israr’s lynching is a consequence of spreading communal poison in society: Dr SQR Ilyas

WPI Delegation meets relatives of the deceased, assuring full support

 – Anwarulhaq Baig

New Delhi, 30 Sep. 23: A delegation from the Welfare Party of India (WPI), led by its National President Dr. SQR Ilyas, visited the home of a mentally challenged Muslim youth, who was recently lynched in Sundar Nagar area here on the allegation of stealing prasad from Ganesh idols.

According to media reports, Mohammad Israr was tied to an electric pole and brutally beaten to death for allegedly consuming some food items such as Prasad, from a Ganesh Pandal in North-East Delhi district.  According to his Aadhaar card, he was 22 years old.

Offering condolences with Israr’s 60-year-old father, Abdul Wahid, and four sisters, the WPI President described it as a heinous act and great injustice with them. Assuring the deceased’s family of providing all possible help, including legal support, and making every effort to ensure swift justice for them, Dr. Ilyas vowed that it would be the party’s top priority to bring all the culprits behind this cruel act to the court of law for severe punishment. On this occasion, the party also provided some financial assistance to the affected family for their basic needs.

Dr. Ilyas pointed out that the police were labelling it as a reaction to the theft allegation, whereas it was, in fact, the result of the increasing influence of communal poison being spread by Hindutva elements among the youth in society. WPI State General Secretary Arif Akhlaq, WPI South East District Secretary Kaif Ahmad, and other party cadre from Seemapuri were part of the delegation.

According to reports, police have arrested seven people including 17-year boy in the case. Deputy Commissioner of police (North East Delhi) Joy Tirkey has denied any communal angle in the incident.

Meanwhile, the CPI (M) has written a letter to the commissioner of police, demanding immediate strong action against all those involved in this hate crime . The CPI(M) Delhi state committee, in its letter called on the police to look into the role of certain extremist groups in spreading religious hatred in the area, also cautioning the Delhi Police about the VHP-RSS designs to escalate the communal violence in Nuh, Haryana to parts of Delhi then. The CPI(M) also asked the Delhi Police for stringent action against such elements promoting communal disharmony.

Condemning the incident, National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) general secretary Muralidharan laments, “incidents of abuse, physical attacks and killings of disabled people are being reported at regular intervals. However, this has acquired a much more dangerous dimension with disabled people being targeted for their religious identity.”

Sharing the purported video, in which some goons are mercilessly beating the youth on its X account, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) expressed shock over the incident and wrote, “This is India’s capital city where a 26-year-old disabled Muslim man named Mohammed Israr was tied to a pole and lynched by a Hindu mob for allegedly consuming prasad (sweets) at a temple.”

As mob lynching incidents, mainly targeting Muslims, continue to escalate in the country, there is a growing demand for the enactment of a law against mob lynching. Several Muslims have been lynched or attacked by Hindu mobs over minor issues or suspicions. Source:  radiancenews.com

SM Asif: A Beacon of Journalism

                           

 

– Anwarulhaq Baig

 

New Delhi, 21 Sep, 2023: Senior Urdu journalist, founder, and editor-in-chief of Urdu and Hindi daily Indinon and English These Days, Syed Mohammad Asif passed away Wednesday in New Delhi, following a brain haemorrhage. He was 70. He had been undergoing treatment at a hospital here.

 

Born on December 27, 1953, he launched the daily Indinon from Patna, Bihar in 1975, after completing his education.

 

After gaining popularity for its unique content and news coverage, Late Asif gradually launched the newspaper’s New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Jaipur and Saharanpur editions. He made a unique history by simultaneously publishing the daily in three languages. Known for his helping nature, he trained and mentored numerous writers and journalists, many of whom are now making invaluable contributions to society.

 

Active in both social and political arenas, Late Asif founded the All India Minorities Front in 1998 and was elected its president. Always advocating for communal amity and brotherhood, SM Asif consistently raised his voice for the country’s oppressed and marginalized sections through this front. He steadfastly stood with minorities in case of injustices inflicted upon them and became their voice. He also actively helped victims and those affected during calamities or riots.

 

Late Asif was conferred with many awards for his outstanding contributions to the field of journalism. He is survived by his wife and two daughters including Lubna Asif, editor of the newspaper. His great contributions to Urdu journalism will be remembered for a long time.

 

His funeral prayers were attended by noted personalities, including community leaders and journalists. He was laid to rest at the Batla House graveyard in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, on Wednesday evening.

RadianceNews.com

JIH, Jamiat, WPI applaud Supreme Court’s move against ‘media trials’

– Anwarulhaq Baig

New Delhi, 18 Sep, 2023: The largest Muslim organizations of India, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind have applauded the recent order of the Supreme Court, in which it directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to frame guidelines within three months for press briefings by police during criminal investigations, intending to prevent them from becoming ‘media trials.’

Speaking to the Radiance, JIH Vice President Prof. Salim Engineer has lauded the order and reacted that it should have been taken earlier. Considering this a positive step, Prof. Salim has highlighted the potential for misuse of such press briefings, which can have a detrimental impact on the justice system. He highlighted how this practice of press briefings tarnishes an individual’s reputation by prematurely labelling an accused as a criminal before his conviction.

Describing it as an injustice to the accused, the JIH Vice President has cautioned that it creates obstacles in the pursuit of justice, potentially influencing the outcomes of cases. He has called for stricter control and regulation of this practice.

Coming down heavily on the ‘media trials’, a Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra on Sept. 13, 2023, asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to frame guidelines within three months for press briefings by police in criminal cases.

Welcoming the order of the apex court against ‘media trials’, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani pointed out that a section of media was spreading hatred between communities.

Responding to a question, Maulana Madani has reminded that the Constitution has granted every citizen the freedom of expression. However, he has emphasized that freedom of speech does not grant permission to the media to engage in deliberate harassment or character assassination of minorities, particularly Muslims.

He added, “But in recent years, the continuous negative and biased reporting about Muslims by a section of media, especially electronic media, has posed a threat to the freedom and lives of Muslims. This clearly goes against the basic right to life as enshrined in the Constitution.”

Expressing his disappointment with the media’s tendency to act as judge and jury in cases involving Muslims, often portraying Muslim accused as criminals, Maulana Madani noted that the media remained silent when a Muslim accused was acquitted.

Appreciating the directives of the Supreme Court to the MHA, Welfare Party of India (WPI) President Dr. SQR Ilyas said, “In many cases, it is the media which make an innocent guilty in the eyes of the people before the pronouncement of the judgment. It is an established judicial norm that a person is innocent till provena guilty by the court of law. Even police leak incorrect information to media and on that half-truth and in most of the cases sheer lies media makes a mountain out of a molehill.”

In its order, the apex court also called upon the Director Generals of Police (DGPs) from all states to provide their input and suggestions for these guidelines. The case will be further reviewed in the second week of January once the MHA prepares the handbook.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also been instructed to contribute to it. To ensure objectivity, the court emphasized that police disclosures during media briefings should not result in a ‘media trial’.  The SC issued this directive in response to a petition filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) related to police encounters.

RadianceNews.com

Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan conferred Bhagirathi Award 2023 for his outstanding contributions

 Anwarulhaq Baig

New Delhi; September 17, 2023: Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, former Deputy Director and head of the Unani Medical Centre at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, has been conferred with the prestigious Bhagirathi Award 2023 in a ceremony.

Dr. Khan, who is General Secretary of All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC) was awarded for his exceptional contributions by the chairman of Delhi State Congress Committee Doctor Cell, Dr. R.B. Singh, and founder president of the Bhagirathi Samajik Sanskritik Manch, Mahant Suresh Sharma of Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place, New Delhi.

On this occasion, a former Member of the Parliament and senior leader of the Congress, Jai Prakash Agarwal presented a shield, certificate and shawl to awardees.

The Bhagirathi Award ceremony is an annual event held near the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place, New Delhi. The award ceremony is organized by the social organization known as the Bhagirathi Samajik Sanskritik Manch, with an aim to honour noted personalities who have made remarkable contributions in different fields.

Dr. Khan, who received numerous prestigious awards for his exceptional contributions to the field of the Unani system of medicine, retired in May 2022. He dedicated over 30 years to CCRUM, the apex government organization for Unani Medicine research, serving in various roles from Research Officer to Deputy Director.

In his congratulatory message, the president of the AIUTC Dr. Shakeel Ahmed hailed Dr. Khan and said that the award was a symbol of communal amity, especially in such a challenging time.

Acknowledging the collaborative spirit the award represents, Dr. Shakeel also conveyed his appreciation to the Bhagirathi Manch. He said, “Although Dr. Syed Ahmad has already received honours from both government and non-government organisations, this award holds great significance because it not only gives an honour but also promotes the Indian tradition of mutual respect and communal harmony.”

Other office bearers and key members of the All India Unani Medical Congress also extended their congratulations to Dr. Khan.

RadianceNews.com

Crackdown on ‘media trial’: SC asks MHA to frame guidelines within 3 months

– Anwarulhaq Baig

New Delhi, 13 Sep. 2023: In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to frame comprehensive guidelines within three months on press briefings by police during criminal investigations to stop them from turning into media trials.

Coming down heavily on the ‘media trials’, a Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said today that the media trial led to deflection from the course of justice.

Stressing the need for updated guidelines, as the existing ones were issued over a decade ago, the apex court observed that now reportage of criminal cases in print and electronic media has evolved radically.

Asking to make a balance between the fundamental right to free speech and expression, and the rights of the accused to a fair probe, the Supreme Court observed that media reportage which implicated an accused during a trial was unfair. Adding that media reports can also violate the privacy of victims, the court has pointed out that biased reporting leads to public suspicion that the person has committed a crime.

The apex court also called upon the Director Generals of Police (DGPs) from all states to provide their input and suggestions for these guidelines. The case will be further reviewed in the second week of January once the MHA prepares the handbook.  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also been instructed to contribute to it.

To ensure objectivity, the court emphasized that police disclosures during media briefings should not result in a “media trial”.

The SC issued this directive in response to a petition filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) related to police encounters.

According to the Livelaw, the focus of this directive centres on two critical aspects. First, it concerns the procedures to be followed by the police during encounters, and secondly, it addresses the protocols that must be observed when police conduct media briefings amid ongoing criminal investigations. While the former was addressed in a 2014 judgment, the SC has now shifted its attention to the latter.

Amicus Curiae and Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan has argued that police disclosures during investigations not only impact the rights of victims and accused but also the overall rule of law. This directive signifies a significant step toward ensuring a balanced and impartial approach to media briefings in criminal cases.

The next hearing has been scheduled for the second week of January next.

Harshly criticising, while speaking at the 16th Ramnath Goenka Awards function, earlier this year, CJI Chandrachud said, “the Media trial can have long lasting repercussions as it creates narratives which make a person guilty in the eyes of the public even before being convicted by a court.”

RadianceNews .com