Imams in Uttar Pradesh have been asked to give special discourses after Friday prayers to apprise Muslims that Quran does not approve of any kind of terror activity, a step aimed at checking their exploitation by militant outfits, in the name of Islam.
 
Ulemas (Muslim scholars) under the banner of 'Movement Against Terrorism', which was formed after a meeting of Muslim clerics and scholars in February, have sent letters to imams throughout the state to issue appeals against all terror activities.
 
The Niab Imam of Idgah, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali, who is also a member of the All India Muslims Personal Law Board, said that imams have been asked to create awareness among people so that innocents do not fall prey to the designs of extremists, who use issues like Babri Mosque demolition and post Godhra riots to whip up religious sentiments.
 
Special emphasis would be laid on mosques in rural areas as people there are more susceptible to such designs, Firangimahli said, adding that "Once they know what Islam has to say about terrorism, there would be clarity in their minds and they would not fall prey to them (terror outfits)".
 
Firangimahali, who heads 'Movement Against Terrorism', said programmes and seminars are being held at various places to defeat the growing tendency of linking the religion with terrorism.
 
"Demonstrations have been held in Lucknow, Kanpur and Sitapur recently, where the protestors burnt the effigy of terrorism", he said.
 
"We are also trying to build in social pressure, with ulemas showing the way, so that people too can openly speak out against terrorism," he said.
 
People are also being told to report any individual, who they apprehend could be vulnerable to 'wrong influences', so that elders could help remove his doubts.