Case Name:- Syed Waseem Rizvi V. Union of India W.P.(C) No.-000401 – 2021
Facts of the Case
Petitioner a former Shia Waqf Board Chairman Syed Waseem Rizvi filed a Writ Petition in Supreme Court seeking for the removal of the 26 verses of the Holy Quran stating that they promote terrorism, hatred, and negativity among the Muslims and send wrong message. It was further stated that wrong message of Allah is taught in the name of Islam. The Islamic students are taught the Quarnic surah’s in such a way that it works as a poison towards the mind-set of the young children. It was alleged that several Madrasa’s are contributing to the terrorist activities. In the name of Allah, they are taught to hate people of other religions and working under this mind-set many young children fall prey to the terrorist organisations. Thus, the Petitioner filed the Writ Petition in Supreme Court for removal of such verses that send the wrong message.
Pleadings before the Court
The Writ Petition was submitted for the removal of the 26 verses of Holy Quran which according to the petitioner are “used as “Justification’s” by Islamist Terrorist Groups for attacks on Non-Believers/Civilians.” The Petition states that “On account of the versus of Holy Quran, (More particularly described in the Writ Petition), the religion of Islam is drifting away from its basic tenets with a fast pace and nowadays is identified with violent behaviour, militancy, fundamentalism, extremism, and terrorism.” Petition filed further added that “the dictates of religion which are not in consonance and overlap with the law of land of any Nation and any country passed by the competent elected representatives in the form of Parliament/State legislature and the laws and the rules made by the United Nations shall have no strength of Law and are violative of the Law of the Land and the same should not prevail over the same”.
The Plea further drew the attention of the court towards the two type of verses in the Quran one being the “Messages of Allah which are positive and promote peace, Harmony, brotherhood, tolerance and forgiveness” and on the other hand “Messages of Allah which are negative and promote violence and hatred.” Islam is based on the concept of forgiveness, equality, equity and tolerance. These 26 verses are contrary to the teaching of Islam. These verses were added to the Quran later on by the First Three Caliph’s to aid the expansion of Islam by war who released the Quran as a book, which is based on the oral preaching’s of the Mohammad. Terrorist use these verses to fuel Jihad and mislead the younger generation of Muslims provoking them to become terrorists resulting in the massacre of millions of innocent lives.
Court’s Observation
The bench of the Supreme Court was headed by Hon’ble Justice Mr. Rohinton Fali Nariman and included Justices Mr. B.R Gavai and Mr. Hrishikesh Roy. When the hearing started Justice Nariman asked the Learned Counsel whether he was seriously pressing the petition “Are you Pressing the Petition? Are you seriously pressing the petition?”. The counsel replied that he was confining to the prayer of the regulations of the Madrasa Education. The literal interpretations of certain verses are proclaiming violence against the Non-believers, therefore teaching them can lead to indoctrination of children. “My submissions are that this preaching’s advocate violence against the Non-believers. Children are kept at captivity in Madrasas at a tender age. Students are not to be indoctrinated.” He stated that he has also written to the Central government to action but no action has been taken. Accordingly, The Central Govt. and Madrasa Board may be called upon to discuss what steps are required to be taken to avoid the literal teaching of these Verses which are advocating Violence.
Court’s Judgement
The Supreme Court, after hearing the counsel Dismissed the petition for the deletion of Verses from the Holy Quran calling it “Absolutely Frivolous” and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000/- for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims by filing this petition.
This article has been authored by Adv. Umang Sharma
