हज़ार बार सलाम आपको; ......आपकी सोच को
Newsroom24x7 Desk
Tarek Fatah, the Canadian writer and advocate of a progressive and liberal Muslim identity, says India is the only country where Muslims exert influence without fear. He said,"As a Muslim, i found it fascinating that India only place in the world where Muslims exert influence without fear.Muslims are better equipped in India than in Pakistan and Bangladesh."
Tarek Fatah further added," I felt the vast majority of Indian Muslims are open to the idea of a separation of religion and state. They've rejected Islamic states, voting to stay here — however, there is no leadership in the Muslim community that says, 'Not in my name'. I talked to prominent Muslims who said, "You're not going to make me deal with issues as a Muslim. I am an Indian. " But i feel they are abdicating the responsibility they have, as the only Muslims with the freedom to stand up against those who wish to take this freedom away."
On the serious question on, if the Muslims are being discriminated against, he said, " I don't deny that but I would rather live with discrimination, where I have the right to speak out, than live somewhere women and others are targeted in the name of Islam. Of course there's oppression in India too against women but nobody says it's an act of piety, it's 'dadagiri', not piety. It can be corrected with better enforcement of laws offering equality and protection. In the Islamic world, the law itself says women are inferior to men.."
