Muslim groups protest Israeli assault on Gaza aid ship
By IANSFriday, June 4, 2010
NEW DELHI - Representatives from several Muslim organisations Friday staged a protest march in the capital against Israel’s assault May 30 on an aid ship en route to Gaza, leading to the death of nine activists, and demanded India snap all ties with the country.
Nearly 1,000 people joined the march that started from India Gate and headed towards the Israeli embassy. The protesters were, however, stopped at Shahjahan road by police.
The protesters later submitted a memorandum at the prime minister’s office and local office of the United Nations demanding action against Israel for human rights violation and war crimes.
“We organised this march to acquaint the country’s civil society about the assault by Israeli forces on aid ships which were carrying humanitarian aid and peace workers, including 700 prominent citizens, parliamentarians and a Nobel laureate from around 50 countries,” coordinator of the march Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas said.
The protesters demanded that India snap all ties with Israel, terming it a “terrorist state”.
“We want the Indian government to snap all ties with Israel as it is an illegitimate state. Its embassy here should be closed immediately as the action Israel took shows it is a terrorist state,” Omar, one of the protesters, said.
The rally was jointly organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, the Jamiat Ulema-e Hind, the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the All India Milli Council, the Muslim Political Council of India, the Indian Islahi Movement, the Majlis-e Fikr-o Amal and the Students Islamic Organisation of India.
An official statement from the organisers said that Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmad Bukhari and Shahi Imam of the Fatehpuri Masjid Mufti Mukarram Ahmad have also extended their support to the protest march.
