India's largest Muslim organisation, the Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, will lead protests across the country to condemn the "mindless killings of innocent persons by the extremist forces" in Paris, according to reports.
Maulana Mahmood Madani, the general secretary of the Jamiat, told The Telegraph that the attacks were un-Islamic and there was no place for such acts in a civilised world.
Madani said it was wrong to link religion to terrorist violence because it was "antithetical to the true teachings of Islam".
"The mindless killings of innocent persons by the extremist forces have no place in a civilised world and needs unequivocal condemnation. It is completely un-Islamic and it has no relation with Islam and its teachings. We condemn those who are trying to demonise Islam by linking it with terror," Telegraph quoted him as saying.
With rise of groups like the Islamic State, Islam has come under severe scrutiny across the world. However critics have cautioned against linking religion to the violent propaganda of the IS, arguing that this is exactly what the terror group wants.
When protestors carrying banners 'Expel the Islamists' disrupted a tribute in Lille for the victims of the attacks, Jeff Guo wrote in the Washington Post: "This is precisely what ISIS was aiming for - to provoke communities to commit actions against Muslims," quoting Arie Kruglanski, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland.
"Then ISIS will be able to say, ‘I told you so. These are your enemies, and the enemies of Islam'", Kruglanski said.
Home Ministry has issued an advisory saying that the "security arrangements for the diplomatic interests of France, U.S., U.K., Germany, Russia, Australia, Turkey and Israel may be reviewed and strengthened."
"Though the IS has not been able to establish any significant presence in India, its success in radicalising some youth, attracting certain sections of the local population or the Indian diaspora to physically participate in its activities, or the possibility of piggy-backing on terrorist groups operating in India, have opened up the possibility of IS-sponsored terrorist action on Indian territory,” the advisory said.
The terrorist group has also released an audio message in Bengali titled 'Caliphate is Back' exhorting young men to join jihad, reported the Hindu.
IS, which does not yet have a toe-hold in India, aims to radicalize Indian youths. An investigative report in the Indian Express found that the four Indians arrested so far with links to the terror group have allegedly confessed to investigators that they planned to cross over to Syria and launch attacks against India.
Salman Mohiuddin, a father of two, was was about to fly out to Dubai, and then to Syria via Turkey, when he was arrested from Hyderabad, the report said. Mohiuddin claimed he intended to "proceed to Syria to join the IS and later return to wage war against India".
While expressing his concerns about "language and expressions" being used by certain quarters, Madani said the Jamiat and other Muslim outfits will gather at the Jantar Mantar today to campaign for peace. He said despite the many problems -- poverty, illiteracy and communalism -- "India still remained the best country for Muslims" because of its culture of harmony.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday said that "ISIS-led attacks were possible in India".
"India is aware of the looming threat by the ISIS and is taking precautionary steps. The world needs to come together as one to combat ISIS," Singh said on the sidelines of the Asia Leaders’ Meeting and 2nd ISDR Asia Partnership Meeting.
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