MALAPPURAM; The remarks made by Mr E.T Muhammed Basheer, IUML national organising secretary and MP from Ponnani, on Salafism has drawn flak from a section of partymen, namely the E.K faction of Sunnis. An article in its mouthpiece ‘Suprabhatham’ on Monday lambasted Mr Basheer without mentioning his name which was followed by a strong statement from the Samstha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema (EK). The article alleged that Mr Basheer’s remarks endorsing Salafism would lure Muslims to radical Salafism which had proved fatal in many parts of the world.
Mr Basheer had made the controversial remarks in a short video which was produced and released recently by Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, the Kerala- based Salafi organisation popularly called Mujahids, as part of the upcoming state conference which is slated to be held in Malappuram in December. In the video, Mr Basheer claimed that the Salafi organisation played a crucial role in spreading the message of puritan monotheism, which is considered to be the basis of Islamic belief. The term was widely used by the Salafi preachers to vilify Sunnis.
The remark has drawn much flak from the Sunni organisations under the Samastha and prompted them to come out openly against Mr. Basheer’s stand at a time when the state is witnessing the perils of this ideology which attracts youths to extremism. Meanwhile, Mr Basheer has distanced himself from the controversy preferring not to react.
“There were so many arguments from them but I took a stand not to react. I don’t want to aggravate the issue at this point of time,” Mr Basheer told DC. The feeling that Salafism thrived in Kerala under the wings of Muslim League is strong among both the EK and AP factions of Sunnis which have around 90 per cent of Muslim population in the state. Mr Basheer’s earlier remarks praising Salafisms also have started doing the rounds in social media after the Samastha statement. At the same time, a section in the IUML sees this as a pressure tactic of the Samastha when the Assembly by-election is set to be held in Vengara.
