Maharashtra Muslim body to launch task force for hate crime victims
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Mumbai: Muslim organisations, civil society groups, legislators, legal experts and community leaders in Maharashtra have announced plans to establish a task force aimed at providing immediate assistance to victims of hate crimes and strengthening efforts to address issues affecting the Muslim community.
The decision was announced following a consultative meeting organised by the Federation of Maharashtra Muslims (FMM) at Mumbai's Islam Gymkhana on June 8.
The meeting brought together Muslim legislators, former judges, lawyers, social activists and religious scholars to deliberate on a range of concerns, including hate crimes, hate speech, the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion (Anti-Conversion) law and the proposed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Jamaat-e-Islami Maharashtra president Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi said the proposed task force would focus on extending immediate support to victims of hate crimes and ensuring timely assistance.
Dolphy D'Souza, associated with the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and the Institute for Community Research Organisation (ICOR), said awareness campaigns would also be launched as a preventive measure to address communal tensions and promote legal awareness.
Participants emphasised the need for a coordinated response to what organisers described as a growing atmosphere of communalism and administrative discrimination. They also discussed the formulation of a long-term 10-year action plan to address challenges faced by the community.
"The meeting is not a confrontation against any government or political party; rather, it is a sincere effort to find sustainable and practical solutions to the issues faced by Muslims," Falahi said.
Among those who attended the meeting were former Bombay High Court judge Abhay Thipsay, MLAs Amin Patel, Sajid Pathan, Haroon Khan, Abu Asim Azmi and Rais Shaikh, along with former Rajya Sabha member Obaidullah Khan Azmi.
The discussions centred on the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion (Anti-Conversion) law, the proposed Uniform Civil Code, hate crimes, hate speech, minority rights and the need to uphold constitutional and democratic values.
Participants also explored strategies to strengthen community awareness, legal support mechanisms and collective action. One of the key resolutions adopted at the meeting called for the withdrawal of the anti-conversion law.
The Federation of Maharashtra Muslims also urged members of minority communities to remain vigilant and ensure that their names are included in electoral rolls.