Moderate Muslims say Kerala youth influenced by Wahhabists
CORRECTIVE ACTION Community planning campaign against sects such as the Salafis
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of reports that more than 21 Muslim youth from Kerala have gone missing and reportedly joined the Islamic State terror group, now murmurs of protest are getting louder in the community against those who soft-pedalled Islamic radicalisation in the state.
“It was waiting to happen,” a Muslim reformer from Malabar in north Kerala said, pointing to the alleged failure of community leaders in anticipating the rapid traction that radical outfits have gained in Kerala over the years and their success in luring youth towards their ideologies.
There are reports that radicals had often collected donations for Islamic radicalisation in the name of suffering Palestinians and diverted it to the conflict in Syria. Though the exact amount of money collected in the state is not known, many businessmen in Malappuram and Kozhikkode admitted that they used to contribute regularly.
Channels of communication between Kerala and war-torn Syria were also active. Many online sites, operating outside the country, conducted question-answer sessions for youngsters from Kerala.
Two months ago, Ahzaab Media — a Syria-based media group linked to the IS —had reported on its website that people from south India had migrated to Syria.
“Brothers from south India who migrated to Sham (Syria) to help oppressed Muslims have launched Telegram channel in (sic) Malayalam language also to update the life in Syria. Spread and share to brothers from Kerala,” a Facebook post by Ahzaab Media said. Many of those reported to be missing from Kerala have sent messages to their family members through Telegram.
Some of these family members said these messages got deleted half-an-hour after they received the messages, so it was difficult to trace their origins.
The current episode is not Kerala’s first brush with terror. The terror outfit, Student Islamic Movement of India (Simi), was banned in India in 2002 but it had spread its wings in Kerala through sleeper cells. In 2007, SIMI had organised a three-day training camp at Vagamon in Idukki district that — intelligence agencies feel — resulted in the formation of the terror outfit, Indian Mujahideen (IM), believed to be responsible for several terror attacks in India. Many family members and relatives of the missing youth in Kerala are holding the Salafi sect that preaches Wahhabism responsible for indoctrinating the youth and luring them to leave for strife-torn areas such as Syria.
Wahhabism is a religious movement of the ultra Sunni sect which believes in Sharia living. The Salafi sect was founded by a former Simi member. Salafis, who had led a secluded life, reportedly wanted to recreate Prophet Muhammad’s lifestyle from the seventh century.
The Salafis are believed to have developed a settlement — recreating this lifestyle — near Nilambur in the Muslim-dominated district of Malappuram.
Some of them have reportedly been rearing goats (like Prophet Muhammad). Some of the relatives of the missing youth said the youngsters used to visit Nilambur under the guise of taking lessons in goat farming.
The worried Muslim community in the state is planning a vigorous campaign against sects such as the Salafis. The Muslim League and Nadvathul Mujahideen, which are moderate outfits, have announced their plan to contain radical elements in the state. However, it may not be an easy task for these outfits as serious differences had cropped up in the last meeting of the Muslim League — which gave a clean chit to Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.
THE MODERATE MUSLIM LEAGUE HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO COUNTER RADICAL ELEMENTS IN THE STATE