CHENNAI: Raising concerns that the proposed conference by a puritanical outfit against ‘un-Islamic’ practices could cause trouble within and outside the community, an Islamic organisation has moved Madras High Court, seeking to restrain the other organisation from holding the event at Tiruchy on January 31.
The Tamil Nadu Sunnath Jamaath in Triplicane has moved the High Court to restrain the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath in Armenian Street for a direction to the State Home Secretary, DGP and the Commissioner of Police, Tiruchy, not to grant permission to the latter for holding the ‘Shirk Abolition’ conference.
In Islamic parlance, Shirk is the prohibited practise of worshipping idols or photos of Gods, Earth (Bhoomadevi), Sun, Moon, Cows, Nature, treating children equivalent to Gods and wives worshiping their husbands - all of which form part of the belief system of other religions. The conference also seeks to discuss topics like worship at Dargah, wearing of pendants, carving sacred scriptures on metal sheets and other such practices followed by a large section within the Muslim community, which is staunchly opposed by the puritanical hardliners who follow the Wahhabi and Tabliqi schools.
“The purpose of the meet is to declare that majority of Muslims in Tamil Nadu is not true Muslims,” alleged M Sulaiman, convenor of Sunnath Jamaath, in the petition.
If permission was granted to hold the conference, it would result in law and order problems, due to which communal harmony would be badly affected, creating hatred and violence, contended the petitioner. Expressing these concerns, the petitioner sent a representation on December 29 to the Home Secretary, DGP and Tiruchy Police Commissioner not to grant any permission for the conference. But there was no reply, prompting him to move the court.
When the matter came up before Justice R Mahadevan on Friday, the Additional Government Pleader P Sanjai Gandhi took notice.
The Judge posted the matter for filing counter to January 27.