Zubeida Qureshi

In a moment of its kind, the mother of the main accused of the serial bombing in Delhi on Saturday declared that if her son is guilty “hang him”. Our country has been faced with many terrorists but for the first time ever, a mother, yes the 60 year old Zubeida Qureshi came out to face our rat like media sending out a message to her son Abdul Subhan Qureishi, “come back and stand trial”. With a trembling voice, she said that if her son is guilty he should be hanged before her eyes so that no one else commits such a heinous crime again.
Maybe it is the undercurrent of suspicion and dislike that Muslims in India have faced at the hands of other religious groups that Zubeida came up with such a brave stand. Those doubting every Muslim they see as a terrorist will perhaps realise that only a few are infected with the anti-humanist strain and not the whole clan. After all, people dying in the terrorist attacks are not all non-Muslims. Due to the actions of a handful, the others are being subjected to a life of renewed shame and embarrassments. Landlords do not like to lease the flat to a Muslim surname. Parents don’t want their children to get their Muslim friends home. Muslim kids are asked for reactions to the terrorist activities in the class. The traditional Muslim ‘burqa’ or ‘hijab’ or even the scarf and cap evoke a discomfort to others around.
Well, this is the treatment meted out to an average Muslim in India. Perhaps, Zubeida’s courageous words can make a change. I’m just hopeful.
Via hindustantimes