The war in Iraq is turning into a full fledged battle between the Sunnis and the Shias and this has grabbed the attention of the Shia community in India. The All India Shia Hussaini Fund based out of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh has been working for the cause of the Shia Muslims is now looking to send 5000 Shia Muslims to Iraq to ensure the release of the Indians trapped over there.



A report had claimed yesterday that the AISHF had promised the youth willing to fight the ISIS in Iraq anything between Rs 40 to Rs 60 lakh. However the organisation says that this is a Shahadat form and there is no money being taken or given. Syed Hasan Mehdi, the Secretary General of the 40 year old organisation tells rediff.com in this interview that 5000 Shia Muslims from India have signed this form and are ready to lay down their lives in Iraq for the cause of those Indians trapped in Iraq.





There was a report that stated that you were paying Shia Muslims anything between Rs 40 lakh to Rs 60 lakh for fight against the ISIS in Iraq.

That is completely wrong. We are not hiding anything. All we did was send out forms to persons who could volunteer to fight in Iraq. There is no question of giving them money and neither are we taking any, as the report has claimed.



How has the response been? How many have signed the form and are ready to go?

The response has been good. 5000 Shia Muslims and 162 Hindus have signed this form. They are ready to go to Iraq.



Do you mean go to Iraq and fight the ISIS? What training do these boys have to fight such a powerful force which even the Iraq army is not able to fight?

When we say fight we do not mean fight with arms. We do not believe in violence and the mission to Iraq is only to help in the release of those Indians who are trapped. We will deploy all peaceful methods to secure their release. We want to help the Indian government in its efforts to secure the release of the Indians in Iraq. Not once have we said or contemplated raising arms and fighting.



The form is a Shahadat form which means sacrifice. What do you mean by sacrifice?

Yes it is a Shahadat form. What we mean is that the fight for justice and to ensure the safety of the Indians is above self. Our youth are ready to even die for the cause. We know that the people we would have to deal with there are not the best. They may even try to kill our youth, but then they have said in the form that they are ready to lay down their lives.



As ambitious and touching as it may sound, has the Indian government approved of the same?

We have just sent all the forms to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. We want their approval. It is they who have to approve this so that the visas can be arranged. We are hopeful that the Indian government will support our cause as we do not intend creating trouble, but only want to help out.



What if the Indian government does not allow this?

What can we do then? We will have to request them once again. The Indian government has always dealt with all matters in a peaceful manner and we too subscribe to the view. We do not consider this to be a war that we are going on. It is a holy war to secure the release of our brothers trapped at the hands of the brutal ISIS.



The ISIS is clearly targeting the Shia Muslims. What are your thoughts on all that I taking place.

The ISIS are animals who will one day target India on the pretext that they want to liberate Kashmir. They are clearly being trained in Pakistan and funded by the Saudis. The ISIS has on its radar, India, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Bahrain and the intention is the introduce the harshest form of their law. The ISIS are a bunch of dacoits and mark my words they will target Kashmir next and try and implement their law there too. These are a set of radicals and I would not just call them Sunnis, but they are Wahabi Sunnis.



Can you tell us why this war cannot be called as Jihad?

The religion of Islam has been a source of peace, brotherhood, love and sacrifice. Some vested interests who do not know the meaning of “Islam” and “Jihad” have blemished the name of Islam. Actually these terrorists are considering terrorist acts a tradable commodity and conducting their nefarious acts in the name of Islam. There is no place for terrorism in Islam. The chiefs of terrorist outfits such as AI-Qaeda, Talibaan, Lashkar-e-Toeba, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, etc. have cited a changed definition of Islam and have brainwashed their members with their training. Osama Bin Laden, Mulla Umar and other terrorists have used the Muslim youth in the name of Islam for the sake of their own vested interests. What did Islam gain from the attacks on WTC in USA, parliament of India and attacks in London? Following these attacks Islam. religion was being interpreted as a terrorist religion. Whether the killings of Shia Muslims in Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan a Jihad? Whether the innocent people who were killed in terrorist attacks in America, London, France, Russia, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were terrorists? Does Quran, the holy book of Islam allows these terrorist attacks? Apart from this whether terrorists Osama, Mulla Umar, Jawaheri, etc. have any right to issue edicts of “Jihad”? Neither Islam nor do holy Quran consider these acts of cowardice as Jihad, instead in real manner it is “terrorism” which has been spread by saying to Muslims that “Islam” is in danger whereas no where in the world Islam has any threat. Muslims from all classes from all across the world should have to oppose such “Jihad” which is blemishing the name of Islam through terrorism.