Babri Masjid Demolition Anniversary: Indian American Group Demands Justice
The Indian American Muslim Council (http://www.iamc.com), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has called upon the Supreme Court of India as well as the institutions of civil society to take cognizance of the miscarriage of justice in the case of the Babri Masjid demolition and to work towards a full and final resolution of the issue.
“The fact that justice has eluded us, even after 19 years since this crime against the nation was committed, is unacceptable, and reflects poorly on the health of our polity as well as our judicial system,” said Shaheen Khateeb, President of IAMC. “While the Supreme Court’s stay on the October 2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court is welcome, it is clear that the machinations of those involved in the demolition could result in further delay for the victims of one of the most egregious violations of religious freedom in our nation’s history,” added Mr. Khateeb.
IAMC believes that it was government inaction, coupled with fanatical mobs driven by the hate-filled discourse of the Sangh parivar, that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. In order to repair the secular foundations of our Republic, and to heal the wounds to our national pride caused by the demolition and its murderous aftermath, IAMC has demanded the following:
a. Criminal prosecution of Mr. L.K. Advani, Sadhvi Ritambhara and 66 others held culpable by the Liberhan Commission for the Babri Masjid demolition
b. A resolution of the title to the disputed land, based on facts and not on favoring the religious beliefs of one community over those of another.
c. A reaffirmation of the “The Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991”, that prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on 15th August, 1947. Although this Act does not apply to the Babri Masjid, it would ensure that sectarian politics is not allowed to leverage other places of worship in order to advance a divisive agenda.
IAMC has called upon people of all faiths to exercise restraint during the upcoming anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, and called upon the law enforcement agencies to provide adequate security to all citizens.
Indian American Muslim Council is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation.
For more information please visit the Council’s website at www.iamc.com.
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