Kochi: Frederick Forsyth, known for the genre of crime and spy thriller fictions, mentioned about Kerala becoming receptive territory of ‘Islamist extremism’ in one of his best sellers The Afghan way back in 2006. The premonition of the UK-born fiction writer is threatening to be closer to reality a decade later with the reports about nearly 16 persons leaving the state to join the Islamic State (IS), the dreaded terrorist outfit, in Syria or Iraq.
The shadow of IS spreading over Kerala has sent shock waves across the state known for its multi-cultural social fabric with Muslims and Christians together accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the state’s 3.5 crore population. Although there was no confirmation about the persons missing from the state for the past one month joining the IS, the political leadership and police in the state have already expressed their dismay at the development. The matter assumes further significance as most people who have reportedly left the country have professional qualifications in medicine and engineering.
“I am really surprised by this news,” said Mohammad Nassar, a native of Malappuram. “How can people with such high levels of education can think of joining in such barbaric outfits.”
The reports about people from Kerala going for joining outfits such as IS are a matter of concern, said Jolly Chirayath, an actor-cum-activist. “But the matter should be handled carefully and in a sensitive manner as there is the danger of the information being used for creating a stereotyped Islamophobia by vested interests,” she said.
The political leadership and security agencies in the state has to figure out the reasons for people from the state being lured to outfits like IS, currently on the retreat in Syria as well as Iraq. A retired official of the Intelligence Bureau who declined to reveal his identity says that Islamist extremism like other extremism is a product of social and political issues. According to him three types of people are lured into such entities. The first category belongs to people who are highly motivated by ideology and commitment. The second category is opportunists looking for making quick money by associating with such outfits and the third could be described as social misfits craving for some kind of recognition.
According to Islamic scholar and writer O. Abdullah, the only way to check the menace of extremism is conscious effort by the spiritual leadership of the respective communities. “The leaders of the community as well as others in society will have to examine the reasons for religious extremism gaining such an acceptance amongst a section of the people,” he said.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad state president SJR Kumar meanwhile has called for a legal ban of religious conversion to prevent the threat posed by outfits such as IS. He also blamed the governments in the state for not taking proper action against the extremist elements actively pursuing their nefarious activities.
