Indian Muslims refuse to bury militants in their graveyards

Indian Muslim community leaders are very upset with the militants who attacked Mumbai, they refuse to bury them in their graveyards.

The Indian Muslim Council members are angry with the attackers. They said the militants cannot call themselves Muslims because they went against the teachings of Islam and killed innocent civilians. The president of Indian Muslim Council, Mr. Ibrahim Tai told BBC News that the militants have defamed their religion. Ten militants attacked various regions in the Mumbai city and killed about 170 and injured scores of others. Mr. Tai told BBC:

"They are not Muslims as they have not followed our religion which teaches us to live in peace...If the government does not respect our demands we will take up extreme steps. We do not want the bodies of people who have committed an act of terrorism to be buried in our cemeteries.

These terrorists are a black spot on our religion, we will very sternly protest the burial of these terrorists in our cemetery,"

Among the civilians there are mixed reactions about this refusal. Many agree with the Council's decision, but others are forgiving like Naseem Ahmed, a Muslim worker in the city.

"They are Muslims and they can be buried even if they have done something wrong. Our religion does not say that those who have done evil can't be buried in a cemetery,"

India has the second largest Muslim population next to Indonesia. Also read Can Tran's Digital Journal article, "Muslims Across The World Speak Against Mumbai Massacre."