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India Muslims in terrorism debate Muslim scholars decry terrorism
(about 4 hours later)
Muslim religious scholars from all over India are meeting at a leading Islamic school to discuss issues related to terrorism. An influential group of Muslim theologians in India have denounced terrorism, saying it is completely against the teachings of Islam.
The meeting is being held at the Darul-Uloom Deoband, a powerful Islamic school more than 150 years old. Their statements were made at a meeting held at the Darul-Uloom Deoband, a powerful Islamic school more than 150 years old.
Scholars from 6,000 religious schools - known as madrassas - are attending. Scholars from 6,000 religious schools attended the meeting.
The Deoband school promotes a brand of Islam which some say was an inspiration to Afghanistan's Taleban, although the school denies this. The Deoband school promotes a brand of Islam which some say was an inspiration to Afghanistan's Taleban.
Reports say that the meeting is expected to denounce terrorism and declare acts of terrorism as "un-Islamic". The school has always denied this.
One of the scholars participating in the meeting told a television channel that it also aimed to shape popular perceptions. Opening the conclave the head of the Deoband school, Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, described terrorism as a thoughtless act which is against the teachings of Islam.
"We want to make the public conscious [about terrorism]. The disease [of terrorism] has been diagnosed in a wrong way. Whenever there is a terrorist act, fingers are pointed at Muslims." He said that the killing of innocent people of any religion was prohibited by the Koran, the Muslim Holy Book.
Another participant said that "terrorism negates the teachings of Islam". Many participants said they want to change popular perceptions in which, they say, terrorism is being equated with Islam.
Senior school official, Muhammad Usman, said the meeting will also advise Muslims to be "careful and cautious about conspiracies in the present situation". Others said that while Muslims should not be harassed because of anti-terrorism operations, the community also needed to be more introspective.
"[We will demand] that Muslim community and people of madrassas or any particular community are not harassed and tortured in the name of terrorism." Many Islamic seminaries across India have come under the scanner of the federal authorities in the wake of recent terror attacks.
Set up in 1866 in north India the Darul-Uloom Deoband is the most influential Muslim religious school in south and south-east Asia.