Press Release MAPIM
7 th April 2013
MAPIM URGES HASINA TO HEED CALL BY MUSLIMS ON RELIGIOUS BLASPHEMY
Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organization ( MAPIM ) call on Sheikh Hasina the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to heed the call by Muslims population in the country to enact law to ban religious blasphemy.
The rally of hundred of thousands of Muslims in Dhaka on Saturday 6 th April 2013 demonstrate the feelings of the Muslims when denigrating Islam by bloggers and secular groups in the country is tantamount to challenging the feeling of the majority Muslim populace of Bangladesh.
We express our concern that the lenient attitude of the Bangladesh government on those who are freely expressing their hatred towards Islam is unacceptable and it does not augur well with the Bangladesh status as a Muslim country in the OIC grouping.
Reports of the many attacks targeting Islam through the media and the internet media with no response from the authorities will reflect how the government is seen as an accomplice in this operation to denigrate Islam.
We do not comprehend why the Bangladesh government is taking the stance of favoring the minority secular groups while Islam and the Muslims are seen as enemies.
What benefit is it for Bangladesh as a Nation , with an overwhelming Muslim majority population , to take the policy of crushing Islam in such a shameful way when the nation is being categories as one of the most poorest country on earth.
In a situation where the country should focus on its dire need of developing basic needs for its huge poor population , and improvement of its unemployment problem , tackling the malnutrition of its urban and rural populace , attending to its educational needs of its people , why is the government so keen in putting the nation into a divided and tense situation.
We are of the opinion , with millions of the Bangladesh population migrating to other countries to find better chance of survival , the government should be wise enough to focus on developing their rich human resource by maintaining peace and harmony , working together with its people for a better future , rather than allowing the country to descend into a state of chaos.
The rally has shown the Muslim's feelings cannot be taken lightly when it comes to protecting the sanctity of their religion.
The re-enacting of the International Criminal Tribunal , which has been criticized by international agencies of not meeting to the international standard is most disturbing.
The ICT is used to launch a selective prosecution against Jameat Islami leaders at the expense of the nation dragged into turmoil and bloodshed with people being brutally killed and attacked by the security is condemnable .
The founding leader of Bangladesh , Mujibur Rahman took the wise measure focussing on the needs of the people and future of Bangladesh as oppose to taking revenge on those allegedly involved in the 1971 Liberation War. His daughter Sheikh Hasina who is leading the government now should not submit herself to the demands of the secular and atheist group out to destroy Islam that forms the very spirit of why Pakistan was created in the first place , before it spilt into west and east Pakistan.
The call by the Muslims for the government to take a firm stand on the blasphemy of Islam is a rightful demand . The Bangladesh government cannot allow itself to be a tool of the western hegemonic powers to oppress the legitimate demand by its own population to enact and protect the Islamic law.
Secularism is a disease of the west and should not me embraced by a Muslim nation. Following the agenda of alienating Islam from nationhood and governance is a step not in congruence with the Islamic principle of building the ummah based on the Quranic guidance . This will result in dragging the Muslim populace to languish in the same civilizational deterioration of the west.
We call on the Bangladesh government to adhere to the obligation of protecting and preserving its Islamic characteristic as a Muslim nation. It is a grave mistake to turn the almost 100 % Muslim nation of Bangladesh to adopt an anti Islam and secularistic form of governance .
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President MAPIM
