{UAH} DANGERS OF RELIGIOUS FANATICSM: COURT VERDICT ON GUJARAT MUSLIM MASSACRE

This case below highlights the dangers of religious fanaticsm and why
state authorities everywhere in the world must clamp down on religious
zealots who fan religious bigotry and hatred.

In February 2002, muslim fundamentalists attacked a train carrying
Hindu pilgrims going on one of the many Hindu pilgrimages that are
celebrated in India. 59 of the pilgrims were killed, most burnt in
train carriages or hacked to death by the muslim fundamentalists as
they tried to escape.

News of this massacre spread like wildfire through-out India,
especially among the majority Hindu population and spontaneous revenge
attacks against Muslims began and spread out almost thorough-out
India.

In Gujarat State, where the current Indian Prime Minister, Mr Modi,
was the Provincial Governor, muslims sheltering in a housing complex
were attacked by a baying Hindu mob and up to 69 people were killed.
Mr Modi did nothing to protect the besieged muslims. Amnesty
International estimates that maybe up to 3,000 muslims were killed in
the revenge attacks, a majority in isolated areas out of control of
state or federal authorities.

Here again, it must be noted the Muslims triggered the religious
violence by brutally attacking Hindu pilgrims simply because they
disgreed with their religious beliefs, calling them satanic and
against the Koran.

It is good to note the Indian authorities have taken some action to
punish the perpetrators of wanton murder, although it needs to do more
to curb Islamic fundamentalism, which is clearly the main cause of
religious violence in the country, as it is in the rest of the
civilised world..

Bobby


Hindus Convicted Of Murder Over 2002 Massacre
Sixty-nine Muslims were hacked and burnt to death as they sheltered at
a residential complex in 2002.
Thursday 02 June 2016

A court in India has convicted 11 Hindus of murder during religious
riots 14 years ago.Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of
Gujarat state - where the massacre happened - at the time.

Some 69 Muslims were hacked and burnt to death as they sheltered at a
residential complex in the city of Ahmedabad, in one of the single
worst massacres of the week-long violence.

The riots left more than 1,000 people dead and have long dogged Mr
Modi, who was accused by human rights groups of turning a blind eye to
the violence.
But the latest verdicts are unlikely to have an impact on the Hindu
nationalist premier who was cleared in 2012 of any wrongdoing, after
an investigation ordered by a Supreme Court.

There were celebrations in the courtroom in Ahmedabad after the
verdicts were read out, but some victims and their families were left
disappointed.
Judge PB Desai found 11 of the Hindus guilty of murder and 13 of
lesser charges, with all of them set to be sentenced on Monday.

The Muslims were killed in this residential complex in Ahmedabad in 2002
But Desai acquitted another 36 people for lack of evidence, including
a former local police inspector on negligence charges, and a local
organiser of Mr Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The judge also ruled that the massacre was a spontaneous attack, not a
pre-planned criminal conspiracy against the Muslim minority, as
victims have alleged.
Zakia Jafri, whose husband was killed in the massacre, said: "I am
happy 24 accused were convicted, but sad that 36 others have been
acquitted. This is incomplete justice and I will fight till the end,"

More than 300 witnesses gave evidence during the trial.
The 2002 riots started after an attack on this train which killed 59 Hindus
It began in 2009, but was delayed by legal challenges and after
several of the original accused died.

Prosecutors had been seeking life in prison for all of the accused
after a rampaging mob stormed the Gulbarg Society complex, killing the
Muslims who were hiding there.

Among those killed was former opposition Congress party lawmaker Ehsan
Jafri whose wife, Zakia, claims that he repeatedly called police for
help but none came.
Zakia is fighting a separate legal battle demanding that Mr Modi and
others be held responsible for failing to stop the riots.

The violence was triggered by the death of 59 Hindu pilgrims in a
train fire on 27 February 2002 that was initially blamed on Muslims.

Hindus bent on revenge rampaged through Muslim neighbourhoods in some
of India's worst religious riots since independence from Britain and
partition in 1947.

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com