– Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam –
Recently we talked about how people have been killed in fake encounters. The police have claimed that the victims were terrorists, but courts found no proof of terror against them. Yet they got no compensation. Well, the dead can’t be compensated for the life that was unjustly taken away from them. By compensation we mean compensation to the next of kin. They were Muslims. The policemen guilty of the crime were not punished, which encourages other policemen to break the law.
This brings us to the Union government’s acceptance in Parliament recently that the Muslim population of the country is 14 percent, but in jails their population is over 21 percent, which is one-third more than their population. The figures come from the National Crime Record Bureau. Hence they should be reliable.
The figures are from the end of 2014. Earlier studies by Tata Institute of Social Sciences with National Commission on Minorities showed that the number of Muslims in jails was 26 percent, only two percent less than double their share in national population. However, according to that study their conviction was far less, even less than their share in the population.
How to account for this? There is only one plausible explanation. They are arrested and jailed merely on suspicion. The police are biased and ever ready to imagine the worst case scenario when it comes to Muslims. They arrest first and concoct charges later, which the courts dismiss, often after censuring the police.
One of the most gruesome facts is that there are thousands of prisoners languishing in jails without trial. Such people are in jail merely because they cannot hire lawyers to work for their release. Their offences are so insignificant, or even non-existent, that they can be out of jails within weeks instead of languishing there for years. All that they need is some money to hire a lawyer. It is here that Muslim organisations and well-off individuals can be of great help. A sizeable number of prisoners come under this category.
Also consider: The other day eight Muslims from Malegaon were released from jail after 10 years of imprisonment on the charge of involvement in 2006 Malegaon blasts. Over the years such blasts had been carried out in mosques with heavy casualties. They were the handiworks of Hindutva terrorists, which was known to everyone. Yet, Muslims were framed by the police for these mosque blasts. They were kept in jail even after Hindutva terrorists accepted their guilt.
Recently the NIA said it had no evidence against them and they were acquitted by the court. So, how do we explain this? And who will compensate them for the 10 years they were forced to waste behind bars?
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About the Author
Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam
Erudite Islamic Economist and Social Scientist
Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam is an erudite Islamic Economist and Social Scientist. He has been associated with Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) as its Chairman for over 25 years now. Dr. Manzoor Alam, a Ph.D. in Economics from Aligarh Muslim University, has held various high-ranking positions in many international organizations such as Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Associate Professor Deptt. of Islamic Economics, University of Imam Mohammad-bin-Saud, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Chief Coordinator for the Translation of Meaning of the Holy Quran in different languages of the world at King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex, Madinah Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia; Chief Representative of International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM) in India; Member of the General Committee of the IDB Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries, Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, K.S.A.; Consultant of the International Institute of Islamic Thought, USA in India; Founder Member of International Islamic Charitable Organisation, Kuwait; and Member, Steering Committee, Istanbul Talks, Civil Solidarity Platform, Istanbul, Turkey.
Dr. Manzoor Alam holds membership on the board of many international journals as well. He is Member of the Advisory Board of MEDAD, published from the KSA; Member of the International Advisory Board of American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, published from the USA; and Member of the Advisory Board of Awqaf, published from Kuwait.
In India, apart from being Chairman of Institute of Objective Studies (IOS), Dr. Manzoor Alam is ably guiding the Indian Muslim community with his vast experience by serving in different capacities such as General Secretary, All India Milli Council, New Delhi; President, Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum, New Delhi; President, Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, New Delhi; and Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Under his stewardship, Dr. Manzoor Alam has successfully transformed the Institute of Objective Studies to being India’s foremost, pioneering and only organization in the country engaged in generating knowledge in Islamic Perspective, Educational development of Indian Muslims, Research, holding Conferences, seminars and workshops on vital issues, Publications and Advocacy for Muslims and other weaker sections’ causes.
Address for Communication
Institute of Objective Studies 162, Jogabai Main Road ,P.O. Box 9725, Jamia Nagar , New Delhi-110025 (India)
Mobile – +91- 9810157494 – email: manzoor@ndf.vsnl.net.in
*Disclaimer : The views expressed by the author in this feature are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of INVC NEWS.
