- There has been widespread outrage throughout India on the alleged involvement of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in the Hijab movement and Anti-CAA protests.
- While there were many uproars in the recent past by different Nationalists demanding a blanket ban on PFI, the Sufi Islamic Board is leaving no stone unturned in opposing the radical Islamic organization PFI.
PFI: Another SIMI in making
PFI, an extremist Islamic organisation was formed in 2006, as a successor to National Development Front. PFI, a political outfit based in Kerala, is a top favourite of the so-called ‘secular’ parties and an eyesore for the legal authorities.
It is believed that PFI is an offshoot of SIMI, the mastermind of the 2006 Mumbai and 2008 Ahmedabad blasts. There have been witnessed an active involvement of PFI and its student wing CFI in the anti-CAA protests and Hijab controversy.
This in turn had led to growing voices demanding a ban on this organisation from the government. And recently the Sufi Islamic Board has also roped in taking the demand further.
Sufi Board Vs PFI: Defamation notice
PFI has served a defamation notice to Sufi Islamic Board referring to an article published in The Hindu that had mentioned a petition filed by Y Shaukat Ali Mohammad, the Advisor of the Sufi Islamic Board, wherein he had sought Madras High Court to direct the DGP to restrain the PFI cadre from taking out the march on the ground that it might disturb communal peace and harmony.
The report quoted an advisor to Sufi Islamic Board, Mohamed as accusing PFI of having links with Turkish jihadist charity group IHH, and claimed that two key leaders of PFI namely Abdul Rahiman and P. Koya were privately hosted in Istanbul by IHH. It was also mentioned that PFI had a role in the 2011 Mumbai Bombings, 2012 Pune blasts and 2013 Hyderabad attacks.
The Board accused the PFI of sharing its ideology with the Muslim Brotherhood i.e. an international terror organization.
The radical Islamic organization took offence at these remarks and has now sent a defamation notice to the Sufi Islamic Board.
Read More- It is high time that Modi government terminates PFI before it becomes SIMI 2.0
Sufi Islamic Board takes a jibe at PFI
Sufi Islamic Board took a jibe at PFI during a press conference at the Chennai Press Club after PFI served Sufi Board with a defamation notice. But why is there a tussle between PFI and the Sufi Board?
Popular Front of India was all set to organize a ‘unity march’ across many cities in Tamil Nadu whose permission was later revoked by the Tamil Nadu Police at the request of the Sufi Islamic Board. The reason cited by the Police for revoking permission was ‘threat to communal peace and harmony’.
There has been a long drawn tussle between these two above mentioned organizations, as Sufi Islamic Board blames PFI for radicalizing the youth of the nation.
Read More- Sufis are peaceful, right? No, they are not
The Sufi Islamic Board in an unexpected move has mocked PFI for sending the notice saying, “an organization that has 1300 cases against it says to me that we are defaming them. What fame does The Popular Front of India carry when charge sheets have been produced against it, many cases have been proven against them.” And with this, the Sufi Islamic Board has put it out loud and clear that they will not stop until organisations like PFI and its allies are banned in India.
Not to mention, the Sufi Islamic Board has been instrumental in opposing PFI and is leaving no stone unturned in advocating for a ban on radical Islamic organization PFI throughout India. The Sufi Islamic Board has been critically vocal about PFI’s attempt of radicalising youth in the nation and was responding to a defamation notice served by PFI.
Read More- PFI is turning into another SIMI, but RSS is well prepared