Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112751600300.htm

Kerala

Silsila Nooriyya denies charges

Staff Reporter

MALAPPURAM: The State head of the Silsila Nooriyya Thwareeqat movement here on Wednesday refuted the charges against the organisation levelled by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The Home Minister had accused the Thwareeqat movement of harbouring people with terrorist links.

Yusuf Nisami Sha Zuhoori, State president of the Silila Nooriyya, said that the Hyderabad-based organisation headed by Hazrath Sayed Arifuddeen Jeelani was solely concerned with spiritual and metaphysical aspects of life and that it had no link with any terror groups.

“It is saddening to find our Minister blame us for the misdeeds of a handful of people,” Mr. Zuhoori said.

He said the activities of the Silsila Nooriyya were like an open book, and there were no hidden activities for it. “We offer nothing but spiritual guidance,” he said.

Quoting Arifuddeen Jeelani, the supreme head of the movement, Mr. Zuhoori said that love of one’s motherland was part of the Islamic belief and that belief could never embrace terrorist activities.

He demanded that those who misused the movement by allegedly seeking shelter at its headquarters in Hyderabad should be brought to light and punished exemplarily.

He said no movement or community should be blamed for the fault of one or two individuals.

“None blames the Army for the Malegaon blasts because a former Army officer was involved in it; none blames the Hindu community for the blasts because a few fanatics are involved in it,” he said.