Right in the thick of terror attacks in the country and the subsequent alienation palpable in the community, the Bombay high court is faced with a petition challenging a ban imposed on a book
Right in the thick of terror attacks in the country and the subsequent alienation palpable in the community, the Bombay high court is faced with a petition challenging a ban imposed on a book that allegedly shows the incline of Muslim youth towards terrorism.
The book, titled “Islam - A concept of political world invasion by Muslims”, authored by advocate RV Bhasin was banned by the government of Maharashtra on March 9, 2007.
Arguing Bhasin’s case on Tuesday, senior counsel JP Cama told the court that the state government has stated no reason for labelling the book malicious. Speaking with DNA on Tuesday, Bhasin said, “The book is not controversial. It is only 14 pages that the government has taken objection to.” Bhasin wrote the book in 2003; however, over a thousand published copies of the book were confiscated from the market after the ban was levied last year. A full bench of Justice Ranjana Desai, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice RS Mohite will continue to hear the case on Wednesday, when the state government will present its side of arguments.
An intervention application supporting Bhasin’s petition has been filed by an organisation called “Right to Read Foundation”. In the intervention application, it is stated that “the book is a testament to the Muslim youth and the intention of the author is to restrain them from the motivation to join terrorist activities”. They said that the ban, four years after the publication of the book, was totally unwarranted as no instance of disturbance to public harmony was reported in the meantime because of the contents of the book.
The state government, however, stated that the book was written without adequate research and some of the contentions raised were baseless and may send a wrong message to the people about Islam and its teachings.
j_mayura@dnaindia.net
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