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Jewish Rabbi Compares Gujarat with Holocaust
Prominent Muslim,
Jewish, Christian and Hindu leaders have urged the International community
not to forget the crimes committed against humanity during last year's
anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in which more than 2000 people were killed.
Speaking at the launch of a book, "The Victim of Hindutva Fascism in
Gujarat: a Tribute to Ahsan Jafri" published by The Council of Indian
Muslims — UK (CIM) Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn said, "The Gujarat tragedy
is a test for all of us whose bonds with India are still strong. At a time
when the agents of Sangh Parivar are actively involved in inciting hate
against their fellow citizens of a different religious background and are
spreading malicious propaganda, it is all the more important for all the
members of Asian Community in this country to be alert and remain steadfast
in their belief in communal harmony".
In his emotive speech Mr Patel said, "This [Gujarat] tragedy has specially
struck me in many ways. I am ashamed by the burning of Sabarmati Express and
the gruesome burning of human beings allegedly by the people who shared my
faith in Godhra, I am saddened that my motherland which, until last year,
enjoyed a unique respect in the world for communal harmony and peaceful
co-existence has been defiled by the beastly behaviour that followed Godhra
tragedy. I am shaken by the shedding of blood of innocent human beings, rape
of women and wanton destruction of properties. And in this inhuman madness,
among many dear ones, I lost a close friend, Ahsan Jafri.."
"Any such tragedy" Mr Patel went on, "is a test of our faith, perseverance
and will power to bear the pain. But when the perpetrators of man-made
disasters go unpunished, when the murderers start taking pride in their
crimes and when the victims are left with no hope of justice, this test
gives way to despair and faith in humanity starts wavering.
"Let us not forget the fact that no community in the world totally comprises
of all saints or is abound by devils. There are good and also bad people in
every community but goodness that is an innate nature of human beings always
prevail in every society. Our greatest tribute therefore to the victims of
Gujarat tragedy would be the total rejection of the fascist attitude being
promoted by the enemies of our society".
Ahsan Jafri was a widely respected trade unionist and a former MP of
Congress Party. On 28 February 2002 his house was surrounded by a frenzied
mob, incited by the Chief Minister of the state, Narendra Modi. Jafri made
more than 200 phone calls including to his Party Leader Sonia Gandhi but of
no avail. He was pulled out of his house and stripped. His fingers were
chopped off, and badly injured he was paraded naked. After his hands and
feet were amputated he was then roasted alive. All of his neighbours who had
taken shelter in his house were also burnt. Before his murder he made at
least 200 phone calls from top politicians to local police officers but of
no avail.
Rabbi Hershel Gluck, Chairman of the North London based Jewish Muslim Forum
said, "My mother was from a village in Austria and my family suffered at the
hands of the Nazis. When I look at the pictures of the charred human remains
of Gujarat it reminds of the holocaust." The Rabbi emphasised that killing
innocent human beings can not be the teaching of any religion.
Paying tribute to Mr Jafri another prominent Jewish personality Cllr Ian
Sharer said that there were tree types of crowns in the world: crown of the
king, crown of the priest and the crown of knowledge. "But there is a fourth
crown as well but it does not belong to this world. It belongs to another
world and that crown is the crown of good name. And Mr Jafri has earned that
crown."
Revd Professor Richard Bonney, Director Centre for History of Religious
and Political Pluralism, Leicester University, said, "I am a Christian
priest and today is a special day for Christians. If I had not to come to
this meeting at this time I would be attending special prayer in the
Church." He prayed for the victims of Gujarat and made special mention of
the pregnant Muslim women whose stomach was cut open and the foetus was
thrown in the blazing fire. The young woman was also thrown in the fire.
Professor Hari Shah Sharma from the South Asian Forum for Secularism, Canada
said that diversity of faiths and cultures was the beauty and unique
characteristic of Indian society which the Indian must feel proud of. But,
he said, this beauty is being destroyed by the fascist of the Sangh Parivar.
Professor Sharma also said that the killing of Muslims in Gujarat was a
genocide and should be treated as such.
Mr Munaf Zeena, Chairman of the CIM and author of the book said, “The murder
of Ahsan Jafri and the failure to bring his murderers to justice is an
example of how vulnerable Indian Muslims and other minorities are becoming
under the BJP's rule."
He further said, "Let us not forget Gujarat because if we do, we will be
giving green signal to the Sangh Parivar to repeat elsewhere in India what
they call the "successful experiment".
Ending his speech with an optimistic note Mr Zeena said, "Let the Sangh
Parivar remember, sooner or later Indians will see your ugly face and will
feel disgusted at the heinous nature of your plans. You may be dreaming of
repeating 'Gujarat Experiment' elsewhere in India but your humiliating
defeat in the recent Assembly election in Himachal Pardesh is a warning
that your dreams will remain unfulfilled."