No imam has the authority to call someone a non-Muslim and incite hatred against him/her.
ISLAMABAD: An application has been filed for investigation into the imam of a mosque in DHA Karachi by three people who have accused him of inciting hatred and calling Sherry Rehman a non-Muslim.
Since the assassination of Salmaan Taseer, the illiterate majority in general, and the imams of different mosques in particular, are lauding the actions of Mumtaz Qadri, the killer. Apart from this, imams have also deemed those who have spoken out against the killing of the governor as infidels. Sherry Rehman proposed a bill seeking to amend the blasphemy law so as to prevent its misuse. Since then, she has been facing a lot of heat and criticism from religious hardliners.
No imam has the authority to call someone a non-Muslim and incite hatred against him/her. Being responsible citizens of the society, we must play our part and show the world that we are not extremists but a progressive and peace-loving nation.
Farukh Sarwar
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2011.
