The recent visit of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Chief of the Muslim World League, to India holds significant importance in fostering interfaith dialogue, promoting peace, and countering extremism. Al-Issa’s condemnation of terrorist organizations, emphasis on the disassociation between Islam and extremism, and calls for unity and love amidst conflicts resonate with diverse communities. His visit to prominent religious sites, including the Akshardham temple and the Jama Masjid, further reinforces the significance of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation among different faiths in the pursuit of global harmony.

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Muslim World League’s Efforts for Peace and Countering Extremism

The Muslim World League, under Al-Issa’s leadership, has been actively engaged in countering extremist ideologies and promoting peace globally. Al-Issa’s visit to India provides an opportunity to reinforce their commitment to fostering dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among political and religious leaders, addressing critical issues related to countering extremism and promoting harmony within societies.

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Emphasizing Islam’s Rejection of Extremism

During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa made significant remarks emphasizing Islam’s rejection of extremism and its commitment to peace and harmony. He highlighted that extremist organizations do not represent Islam or any other religion, emphasizing their disconnection from religious teachings.

“Islam does not like double-speak and Muslims need to be truthful,” the Muslim World League secretary general said in his sermon delivered in Arabic.

Al-Issa emphasized the need to counter the distortion of the Islamic faith by terrorist organizations, emphasizing that Islam stands for peace, love, and harmony. He reiterated that the teachings of Islam promote compassion, tolerance, and respect for all humanity.

By underscoring the message that Islam has no place for extremism, Al-Issa aims to dispel misconceptions and bridge gaps between different religious communities. His statements seek to foster understanding, promote interfaith dialogue, and combat the spread of extremist ideologies that falsely claim religious justifications for violence.

Through his leadership in the Muslim World League, Al-Issa and the organization actively work to counter extremist ideologies and promote a peaceful interpretation of Islam. Their efforts include educational programs, interfaith initiatives, and ideological interventions aimed at fostering a culture of tolerance, coexistence, and peace.

Al-Issa’s emphasis on Islam’s rejection of extremism not only reaffirms the commitment of the Muslim World League but also serves as a powerful message to Muslims around the world. It reinforces the importance of understanding and living by the true principles of Islam while rejecting any form of violence or extremism.

In conclusion, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa’s emphasis on Islam’s rejection of extremism highlights the core values of peace, love, and harmony within the religion. His efforts to counter the distortion of Islamic teachings by extremist groups contribute to fostering interfaith dialogue, promoting understanding, and working towards a more peaceful and inclusive world.

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Interfaith Engagement at Akshardham Temple and Jama Masjid

Al-Issa’s visit to the Akshardham temple and Jama Masjid exemplifies his commitment to interfaith dialogue and fostering understanding among diverse religious communities.

At the Akshardham temple, Al-Issa not only admired the architecture and cultural heritage but also engaged with the Swamis to discuss matters related to global peace, harmony, and coexistence. This interaction provided a unique opportunity for an exchange of perspectives, fostering deeper understanding and mutual respect among different faith traditions.

Similarly, Al-Issa’s presence at the historic Jama Masjid during Friday prayers was a significant gesture of solidarity and outreach to the Muslim community in India. His participation in the prayers underscored the importance of unity and shared values across religious boundaries, reinforcing the need for peaceful coexistence and interfaith cooperation. Ahead of the prayer, Al-Issa met Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid.

These interfaith engagements highlight the significance of dialogue, respect, and mutual learning in promoting peaceful relations among diverse religious communities. By engaging with leaders and communities of different faiths, Al-Issa aims to bridge gaps, dispel misconceptions, and foster harmonious relationships based on shared values of love, peace, and understanding.

These initiatives contribute to building trust and strengthening bonds among people from various religious backgrounds, paving the way for a more inclusive and tolerant society. They demonstrate the Muslim World League’s commitment to interfaith dialogue, promoting harmony, and working towards a peaceful coexistence where diverse religious communities can thrive together.

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Efforts to Counter Extremism and Promote Peace

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa reiterated the Muslim World League’s dedication to countering extremism and promoting peace globally. Their initiatives focus on ideological interventions, countering hate narratives, and fostering dialogue to eliminate extremist ideas and foster a climate of harmony and understanding. Al-Issa’s visit to India serves as a platform to strengthen collaborations in countering extremism, promoting interfaith harmony, and advancing peacebuilding efforts.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa’s visit to India as Chief of the Muslim World League carries significant implications for fostering interfaith dialogue, promoting peace, and countering extremism. His emphasis on Islam’s rejection of extremism, engagement with diverse religious sites, and commitment to countering extremist ideologies reflect the efforts of the Muslim World League in combating the distortion of religious teachings. Through dialogue, understanding, and concerted actions, Al-Issa and the Muslim World League strive to build bridges among different faiths and promote a climate of peace, love, and harmony in India and beyond.

However, Abdulkarim Al-Issa chose not to speak of the atrocities happening in India against the Muslim population nor did he speak of the Kashmir issue, and what people are calling a bloody silence disappointed many Muslims.

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South Asia is home to one-third of the world’s Muslim population. Contrary to the popular belief there are more Muslims in South Asia than there are in middle-east which is popularly known to be the heart-land of Islam. After Indonesia, India is the second country in the world with the largest Muslim population. India is anciently known to be the hub of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. So, when and how did a country largely consisting of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains become so densely populated by Muslims? How did Islam emerge in pre-colonial India? As much as there is a controversy around this inquisition, there is also a lack of historical, geographical and political awareness related to it. The most important aspect to this bone of contention is the appalling state of the Muslims in post-colonial India, and how is it different from that of the Muslim diasporas in the rest of the world, in specie the West. Albeit there have been events of religious violence in pre-colonial and British India, the post-colonial period has seen an enormous increase in riots and hate crimes against Muslims in India.

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The Image of Muslims in the West

The image of Muslims in the west has been in question lately more than ever in the world in general. The rise of hate crimes against Muslims usually chalk up to the 9/11 attack against the United States which was allegedly carried out by a religious extremist organization Al-Qa’ida. Having said that there have been some crucial conspiracy theories that called for a new investigation into the attacks, because they asserted that there was evidence of individuals from within the US government being either responsible for or knowingly having conspired in the attacks as a means for America of justifying the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, majority of the general public held the opinion that Al-Qai’da had orchestrated the attack. Because the members of the Al-Qai’da were people who proclaimed to be the adherents of the religion of Islam, this gave rise to a sense of bigotry and intolerance in the west towards the entire Muslim community.

The widely accepted notion among the broad commonality incriminated the Muslims of effectuating the attack. Non-Muslims started generalizing Muslims and started viewing them as people who endorsed terrorism, which led to a common prejudice against them in the western society. From their customs and religious practices, including their eating habits, to their appearance and clothing, Muslim men and Women were looked down upon and stereotyped as radical and fundamentalists. This generalization and stereotyping of Muslims gradually turned violent in nature and this turn of events gave rise to a series of hate crimes resulting in abuse and even unfortunate deaths of many Muslims. Howbeit, even before the 9/11 attack, many bookmen and laypeople alike had accepted a prior perception that religious terrorism had become the most common form of terrorism, particularly with regard to Islam. This suggests that Islamophobia was a common practice even before 2001.

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Islamophobia before 9/11

People have associated Islamophobia with various manifestations. While some people reckon the phenomena with the increasing population of Muslims in the United States and Europe, others deem it to be retaliation for an ostensible anticipation of the emergence of a global Muslim identity. Yet many others identify Islamophobia with xenophobia and racism. Another less talked about reason for Islamophobia is the media’s double standards while reporting terrorism. A recent study has found out that terror attacks by “muslims” receive 357% more press attention. This was University of Alabama researcher’s newly study which was published in Justice Quarterly (academic journal covering criminology and criminal justice) authored by Dr. Erin Kearns, UA assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice. Still and all the causes of Islamophobia have always been and till date are debatable.

In the spate of attacks on Muslims in the western countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and New Zealand, it should be noted that the occurrence of such deplorable crimes in the West have one regularity. They are all driven by Islamophobia, the impetus of which is the bigotry for Muslims, a sequence to the specious notion that Muslims endorse Terrorism.

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Appalling State of Muslims in post-colonial India- Partition

Talking about Islam and Muslims, then like in West the appalling state of Muslims is much the same in parts of South Asia explicitly in India, but for wholly different reasons. Though there have been incidents of religious violence in pre-colonial and British India, the history of modern India has seen a compelling surge in the estimate of both subjective and objective violence. But what accounts for this rise of violence against Muslims in independent India? Is it Islamophobia that drives this hatred, just like it does in the West.

Inasmuch these crimes are a result of anti-Muslim sentiments in both the West and in India, the causes of these crimes are primitively much different. Benchmarking the nature of these crimes and the disparity in the claims of the perpetrators, one finds out that there is significantly a historical aspect to the nature of violence against Muslims in India. The partition of British India into two different countries, now called India and Pakistan, was originally borne out of a religious divide amongst Hindus and Muslims. As history claims, different people were for and against partition, as each had a different vision in mind.

There are many theories that explain the reasons for the establishment of Pakistan. One of the most agreed upon consensus of the pro-partition leaders for the formation of Pakistan was the subject of safety of the Muslim minority in the otherwise Hindu majority India. The earlier incidents of religious violence in India had taken a toll on both the Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims being the minority were now more insecure about their safety while living amongst Hindus. Because the safety of Muslims had been in question, ultimately the demand for a separate country for Muslims by the pro-partition leaders was unanimously supported by most Muslims. The Muslims who were not able to migrate then to the land given to Pakistan were left in India, and thus were even less in number, making them an even smaller minority than before.

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Commencement of the Appalling State of Muslims in post-colonial India

 What marked the commencement of the violence against Muslims in Independent India was the demolition of Babri Masjid, a 430 year old mosque in Ayodhya by extremist Hindus and members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) and Bajrang Dal. What followed was a sequel of incidents feuled by the religious animosity stirred between Hindus and Muslims. There has been a continuing rise in the manifestation of hate crimes and incidents of religious prejudice against Muslims in India ever since. However, with the emergence of the current government in India, the last few years have seen an enormous and noticeable amount of hate driven crimes including rape, public flogging and lynching. The motives of the perpetrators for committing such heinous crimes are as bizarre as they are abominable. Concepts like cow vigilantism and theories like “Ghar Wapsi” have been doing rounds in the air and have accounted for most of these crimes if not all.

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The idea of “Ghar Wapsi” in the appalling state of Muslims in post-colonial India

The idea of “Ghar Wapsi” has also been endorsed and publicized by the right-wing extremists in India, including the leaders of the current government. It is a concept that propagates religious conservation of non-hindus to Hinduism. The reason behind the ideology of these people is their belief that all the people living in pre-colonial and ancient India were originally Hindus. They believe that the emergence and presence of non-hindus in India is only because of the forced conversions by missionaries and invaders that came to India from outside, who were by and large Muslims. This ideology is linked to the pre-colonial past of India. It refers to the period when Islam first emerged in India in 711, when Mohammad Bin Qasim, who was a general in the Umayyad -empire conquered the area of the Southern Pakistan. This was the initial interaction of Islam with South Asia.

Afterwards in the 13^th century, the Mongol Invasion uprooted a large number of Persian Turks from Iran and Central-Asia driving them to India where they settled in. And so gradually the tradition and practices of these people started to blend in the syncretic culture of India. Subsequently in the late 13^th century with the establishment of the Empire of Timur, began the era of the rise Muslim rulers in India.

Later on in 1526, Babur, a direct descendant of Timur, founded the Mughal Empire, which then ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent for more than 200 years. During the growth of the Mughal Empire under Babar’s son Akbar (1526-1605) there was an essential blending of Hindu-Muslim cultures. Akbar married a Hindu princess of a pure Hindu Rajput blood-line. This made Akbar’s son Jehangir half Rajput and half-Hindu.  After Akbar, his son also married a Hindu woman, and therefore Jehangir’s son Shahjahan was three-quarters Rajput. With the rise of the Mughal Empire, biologically each successor of the dynasty became less and less Turkic and more and more Indian. They adapted the culture of India and also the Indian culture was insinuated by the Islamic traditions, resulting in the concoction of two separate cultures and religions.

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Historic Bias as a reason for the Appalling State of Muslims in Post-Colonial India

These religious and cultural adaptations are, however, still seen as unethical and blameworthy by many Hindus in India, as they see Islam as a threat to their own culture and identity, as a foreign concept brought to India from outside. They consider the presence of Muslims in India as a result of the historic invasions and forceful conversions by Muslim outlanders and conquerors, and not the gradual amalgamation of two different cultures and religions over the course of time. Crimes like lunching and theories like “ghar wapsi” are not mere co-incidents but are borne out of such historic beliefs. They are a corollary of a historic hurt that these people carry. The violence in the west or bread out of islamophobia is sporadic in nature and often spontaneous while in India violence is structured. Unlike the west, the primeval and ever-growing intolerance towards the practices and culture of Muslims in modern day India is not because of the nature of these practices. On the contrary, in India Islam as a religion is not seen as much of a threat but Muslims are.

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32,000 Hindu and Christan girls converted to Islam and transformed into ISIS terrorists – this is the plot line of a recently released movie, The Kerala Story. Focusing on the suffering of thousands of converted terrorists in Keralla, love jihad, and forced conversion, the film paints a grim picture of modern India.

But there’s a twist – the majority of what the movie presents as concrete facts are plain lies.

Be it the number of 32,000 converted ISIS terrorists or the looming threat of love jihad, the polarizing movie presents a twisted truth. In this article, we are debunking the reality of THE KERALA STORY and understanding how the movie only aims to provoke Indians against each other.

Fact-Check of the Kerala Story

The movie Kerala Story states multiple accusations and ‘facts.’ The most popular ones include the following:

• 3200 women converted to Islam
• Kerala to become an Islamic State in the next 20 years
•  Fatima (the forcefully converted ISIS terrorist) is still stuck in an Afghanistan jail

But how much of it is true? Let’s uncover the reality.

3200 Converted women

In 2012, Oommen Chandy, the then-chief minister of Kerala, informed the state legislature that over 2667 young women converted to Islam between 2006 to 2012. On the contrary, however, the CM never mentioned the term ‘forced conversion.’

Instead, dismissing the baseless love-jihad accusation, he stated:

“We will not allow forcible conversions. Nor will we allow for spreading hate campaign against Muslims in the name of love jihad”

Oommen Chandy, cm of kerala

Kerala – An Islamic State?

The second claim was based on another former Chief Minister of Kerala, V S Achuthanandan’s (2006-2011) statement. However, when you look at the video, you can clearly see how they manipulated the English subtitles.

During his speech, Mr. Achuthanandan criticized PFI, blaming them for “influencing the youth of other religions.” However, again there was no mention of ISIS. Also, it’s worth noting that it’s been over 13 years since the speech, and Kerala remains a safe and secular state.

4 Kerala Women Who Joined Islamic State

Between 2016 and 2018, four women left Kerala for the Islamic State of Khorasan Province –Nimisha (Fatima Isa), Merrin Jacob (Mariyam), Sonia Sebastian (Ayisha), and Rafela.

Amongst these four women, one was already Muslim, two converted from Christianity to Isma, and one from Hinduism to Islam. The Kerala story revolves around Fatima, who was allegedly trapped in love jihad. However, on further investigation, we found that Fatima’s husband, Eeza, himself converted to Islam from Christianity.

The Twisted Reality

The Kerala Story movie depicted a fake image of its three protagonists – innocent women trapped in a global conspiracy with no alter intentions. The entire audience sympathized with the helpless women.

However, when you look at the real-life interview of the real converted terrorist women, you can hardly empathize with them. The discussion clearly shows how brainwashed and radicalized these women still are.

Moreover, the 2016 NIA report shows that all the 20 terrorists mentioned in the report were deeply interconnected regarding radicalization. Seventeen of these came from the Kasargod district of Kerala.

The 2016 India Today report highlighted a concerning truth that it’s not just singles who are traveling to IS-controlled territories. Instead, entire families with children have gone to join ISIS.

According to Stat News Global, about 60 Indians (26 males, 13 women, and 21 children) shifted to Afghanistan in 2018.

So there definitely is a problem where people are brainwashed to join ISIS. Internet and social media have opened new modes of communication to influence. A 2019 report states that ISIS uses the dark web and encrypted platforms to radicalize the youth and recruit terrorists.

Analyzing the Real Terrorism Problem in India

The International Center for the Study of Radicalization, King’s College reported that about 41,490 people from 80 countries are affiliated with IS. Furthermore, 74% of these terrorists are men.

The Underseceratery General of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism released another data of over 40,000 foreign terrorist fighter joining conflicts in Syria and Iraq across 110 countries.

But how many of these recruits are from India?

America’s Bureau of Counter Terrorism published a country report which highlighted the 160 people who were arrested related to IS in India. These 160 people include not only the terrorists who left India to join ISIS but also individuals who propagated ISIS’s agenda over the Internet.

Of the 160 accused, only 40 cases were said to be from Kerala. This number, however, still does not tell the exact data of people who joined ISIS.

The US Department of State reports revealed that about 66 Indian-origin terrorists were affiliated with ISIS till November 2020. Among these 66, there are only ten women, and only six are from Kerala.

The Problem with the Kerala Story

Dictating the story of three women being the reality of 32,000 women is one of the biggest lies the Kerala Story presents.

The problem is – people are still being brainwashed and recruited into ISIS across the globe. Going back to the 2016 country report, we can see how many countries are affected by the problem. Following is the number of IS recruits per country:

• Russia – 2,500
•  Frace – 1,700
•  United Kingdom – 760
•  Germany – 760
•  Belgium -470

When these numbers are compared to India, a country with the third-largest Muslim population, the 66 recruits seem, though still concerning, small.

The movie is defaming one of the best states of India based on lies.

The Proud Truth, the Kerala Story, Tries to Hide

The ORA report and, in many instances, international organizations consistently ask why Indians have fewer ISIS recruits. The movie, however, does not delve into this.

Time and again, the Indian agency’s strict and quick repose has busted ISIS propaganda in the Country. For example, under Operation Pigeon, Indian agencies saved 350 vulnerable Malyali youths from being recruited through de-radicalization programs.

Former diplomat Talmiz Ahmad also praises India’s syncretic culture and tradition behind the youths rejecting extremism. Indian constitution and culture celebrate unity in diversity. That’s why most Indians reject extreme ideologies.

A report from 2015 even states that ISIS considers Indian recruits inferior to Arabs because Indian Muslims follow a more legal version of Islam.

Many Indian Muslim clerics have also played a positive role in promoting harmony. In March 2009, Darul Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa declaring India as Dar al-Aman (a country where militant jihad is prohibited). In 2015, over 70,000 Indian Muslim scholars issued a joint fatwa against ISIS, the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups.

The Real Kerala Story

Kerala is a living example of India’s thriving unity in diversity, where people of all religious faith live together in harmony. Movies like The Kerala Story are trying to defame one of the most prosperous states of India, along with increasing polarity and radicalization within the country.

Terrorist propaganda, conversions, and brainwashing of youth to become terrorists are global realities. But films like the Kerala Story undermine the pain and suffering of the actual victim by showcasing fake provocating stories.

On the plus side, however, the lash back the movie has received shows that fake numbers and conspiracy theories can’t fool Indians.