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Journalism of Courage
The split in Mumbai’s Muslim community over the issue of triple talaq took a bloody turn on Tuesday.
Sajid Rashid, editor, Hindi Mahanagar, a staunch critic of triple talaq, accused Sayeed Ahmed, editor of Urdu Times, after he was stabbed twice in the back outside his office in Mahim on Tuesday night.
Rashid—once don Dawood Ibrahim’s classmate and author of an acclaimed book on Mumbai’s seamy underbelly—was rushed to KEM Hospital in central Mumbai and is out of danger.
‘‘As I came down from my office and was about to start my bike, a bearded, well-built man came up to me, asking: Tera naam Sajid hai? Tum Quran ki toheen karta hai (Are you Sajid? You insult the holy Quran),’’ explained Rashid. ‘‘Then he pushed me while his companion stabbed me twice in the back.’’
The police said they had identified one assailant and he was likely to be arrested soon. But Rashid has blamed Ahmed of masterminding the murderous attack.
Ever since Muslims for Secular Democracy, a progressive body (Rashid is its vice-president, poet Javed Akhtar, president), held a press meet on July 2 to express their views on talaq, Ahmed’s newspaper has been critical of Sajid. Akhtar and Rashid had asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to discuss triple talaq in its Kanpur session and drop it.
Rashid says the Urdu Times has instigated Muslims against members of MSD. However, Ahmed dismisses the allegations: ‘‘He has accused me because of a personal grudge. I am ready to face any investigation.’’
Rashid, as head of the Maharashtra Urdu Akademy, had held a seminar on Urdu scholar late Krishan Chander on June 12-13 where Ali Ahmed Fatmi, an Allahabad-based scholar, called the Quran “propaganda.” It was nearly a month later, on July 14, that Urdu Times criticised Fatmi for ‘‘anti-Quran’’ utterances. The newspaper said it had targeted Rashid because he “sided with the scholar.”
Countdown to attack
On June 12 Rashid organises a seminar where a scholar makes anti-Quran remark
• On July 2 Rashid, Javed Akhtar and other members of MSD hold a press conference in Mumbai, asking the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to discuss triple talaq.
• Urdu Times carries a series of articles against Rashid.
• MSD files a complaint with Police Commissioner A N Roy against Urdu Times.
• Between August 9 and 12, Rashid is chased near J J Hospital. He files a complaint at Dongri police station on August 16.
• On August 24 Rashid is stabbed near his office in Mahim.
