Muslim groups allege harassment after 7/11

Leaders of Muslim organisations on Tuesday alleged "harassment and humiliation" of members of the community in connection with Mumbai blasts and said this was "demoralising" them.

"Harassing and humiliating Muslim terror suspects in the glare of cameras and electronic media is inhuman and sends a message that the entire community is terror suspect", Kul Hind Imam Association chairman Sajid Rashidi told reporters.

Shia Personal Law Board Chairman Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi said a "systematic effort is being made to demoralise the Muslim community and create a rift between the two communities.

"We are all ready to cooperate with authorities in the blasts probe. But the manner in which Muslims are being humiliated in connection with the probe is despicable", he said.

All India Ulema Council treasurer Maulana Syed Athar said "no sane person would support those behind the blasts which claimed lives of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and the like.

"But when you see visuals of over 300 members of the minority community being rounded up in connection with blasts probe on TV channels, the humiliation is overpowering", he alleged.

Athar also criticised the recent police firing at Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district, which claimed two lives and the subsequent lynching of two policemen.