RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi has said that universal protest against blasphemy is continuing for the last 1,400 centuries but shedding the blood of innocent citizens and causing harm to the national property in the garb of protest in Muharramul Haram against publication of blasphemous images in European newspapers six months ago is unawareness of Mustafa’s (SAW) status.

He stated this while addressing a 72-member M.O. delegation that called on him at the head of Dr. Z.H. Naqvi. He said by the Grace of God, there are 57 Muslim States and an international organization like the United Nations that had been formed in the name of human rights. Firstly, Muslims were declared violent and then Islam was declared the religion of punishment and Afghanistan and Iraq were destructed in the garb of rooting out terrorism and no one came to help the oppressed.

He said taking advantage of this situation, Jyllands-Posten daily of Denmark published about a dozen blasphemous images on 30th September 2005, some Muslims envoys lodged a protest in Denmark on 20th October and throughout the world only Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya raised a voice of protest on 31st October and later a Spokesperson of the Government of Pakistan condemned it while silence was witnessed on this issue all over the world so much so that Makkah Summit held on December 7-8 also kept a quiet on this issue. He said the question arises that why this most important issue was ignored in OIC’s Makkah Declaration? Why they avoided condemning it?

Agha Moosavi demanded from President Musharraf to set up a Tribunal to identify those powers that kept quiet for 6 months as a result of which more newspapers in Norway, France, New Zealand, America, Germany, Jordan, Yemen published these images and the Italian minister prepared an outfit comprising these images and American President Bush and Tony Blair supported blasphemy instead of condemning it.

He said this is not an issue of any Maktab or Maslak rather that of whole humanity, religion and Shariat. Therefore, he said, there is need to lay down a joint, strong and wise strategy. He lamented that our combined enemy has promoted internal differences in Muslim States under a conspiracy and all energy was utilized to prove the existence of sectarian conflicts in these States and these efforts are still going on.

He said after tragic incident in Tank at the beginning of Muharram, dozens of Azadaran kissed martyrdom and dozens of them were injured in terrorism on the eve of Youm-e-Ashoora in Hangu. Yemeni forces used chemical weapons in Yemeni cities on the occasion of Ashoora in which dozens of people kissed martyrdom and the Yemeni people have appealed the whole world in the name of blood of Hussain (A.S.) to help them without fail.

The TNFJ chief asked who are these powers who have come out in open against blasphemy in Muharramul Haram after keeping quiet for 6 months despite the fact that this month is commensurate with Nawasa-e-Rasool Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his 72 sincere companions and near and dear ones.

Selection of the month of Muharram for such protest provides food for thought, he added. He said we are against blasphemy and Syed-ush-Shuhada Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) had presented his sacrifice and the life of his near and dear ones against blasphemy. The universal protest of Azadari is going on by following in the footsteps of Hazrat Zainab (S.A.) and Hazrat Zainul Abideen (A.S.) in which neither any damage is caused to property nor blood of anyone is shed in any country rather all schools of thought and the oppressed nations take part in it. He said Pakistan was achieved in the name of Islam.

The Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Moosavi said Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) sacrificed all he had for the protection of Islam being the inheritor of all prophets and the Holy Prophet (SAW) making it clear on the world that any sacrifice howsoever big could be offered for the sanctity of Islam, Quran and Paighambar-e-Islam.

Strongly condemning those who committed blasphemy and those who extended help in aggravating the situation to achieve their particular interest causing harm to life and national property, he said all Prophets preached peace and tranquility while the 63 year era of the Khatmi Martabat (SAW) is replete with forgiveness, sacrifice, sympathy, firmness on the right path, bravery, courage, and freedom fighting. He left the imprint of his pious life along with Quran and Ahle Bait (A.S.) as his inheritance and we can become successful here and Hereafter by attaching with both of them rather could get the whole humanity rid of problems by doing so.

He said the Holy Prophet (SAW) had delivered a great sermon on the occasion of victory of Makkah and meaning of one of its sentences goes: Lace yourself with forgiveness, sacrifice of feelings, spirit of sacrifice, and freedom loving. But, he said, about the international Taghoot that has been called Millat-e-Wahidah, there is a saying of Maula Ali (A.S.) that by God I feel these people will snatch power and authority from you because they are united on their evil and you are scattered on your righteousness and they evil are subservient to their Guide and you do not follow the commandments of your Guide despite being on the right path.

He said the benefit of this situation is being reaped by the international colonial powers and Islam, Paighambar-e-Islam (SAW) and holy books are on their target while all religions, sections of society, nations of earth respect the Divine Representatives rather consider their desecration and insult as a sin.