Waseem Rizvi, ex-chairperson of the UP Shia Central Waqf Board, is paying the price for trying to bring about reforms in Islam as he is now being ostracised and is all set to be de-Islamised as his actions seem to have rubbed the extremists and ultra-soft seculars of the Muslim community the wrong way.
Earlier last week, Rizvi filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking to remove 26 verses of the Quran, alleging that the verses promoted terrorism and Jihad and his life has since taken a horrific turn as he faces the prospect of being thrown out of the community.
In the PIL, Rizvi claimed that the objectionable verses were added to the Quran later. “These verses were added to the Quran, by the first three Caliphs, to aid the expansion of Islam by war,” Rizvi had said.
According to Rizvi, terrorists use these verses to fuel jihad. He also said that these verses are used to mislead the young generation of Muslims, provoking them to become radicals and terrorists, resulting in the massacre of millions of innocents.
After his petition, the Muslim clerics issued a bounty offer of Rs 20,000 for anyone who brought Rizvi’s head to them. Islamic Cleric Hasnain Jaffrey Dumpy, the national president of Shiane-Haider-e-Karrar Welfare Association, announced a bounty of Rs 20,000 to anybody who beheads Rizvi.
After issuing the bounty, Islamic cleric Dumpy also urged the administration to take action against Rizvi for allegedly attempting to hurt Muslim sentiments by speaking against the Quran. He claimed that Rizvi’s statement could incite violence in society and demanded his immediate arrest.
Read More: Waseem Rizvi wanted some changes in the Quran, now he has a bounty of Rs. 20,000 on his head
The All-India Shia Personal Law Board and many other Muslim organisations have condemned Rizvi’s action and urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the PIL as “Muslims will not accept any debate on authenticity and truthfulness of the Quranic verses.”
“Nobody from Hazrat Imam Ali, the first Imam of the Shias, to Imam Hussain or any other imam ever raised doubts over the veracity of the Quranic verses. He is quoting out of context and trying to spread discord. The Supreme Court should throw out the PIL immediately,” said Shia Personal Law Board’s general secretary and spokesperson Maulana Yasoob Abbas.
On Sunday, hundreds gathered outside the Bara Imambara to rally against Rizvi. The gathering saw the protesters demanding that he shelve his surname and replace it with some expletive. The visibly angry crowd also urged the Supreme Court to junk Rizvi’s petition and the Indian government to arrest him on charges of blasphemy and attempting to breach the peace. In fact, Maulana Kalbe Jawad claimed that if the government failed to act against Rizvi, it would mean that it is supporting him. A similar joint Shia-Sunni protest is planned later this week against Rizvi.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad also claimed that Rizvi is not a Muslim and hence he must not be made a member of any Muslim organisation in the future. Facing boycott and the fear of being thrown out of the community, a sad Rizvi has now released a video in which he revealed that even his family members, including his wife and kids, have left him and he will keep fighting till his last breath.