Muslim Lawyers Attacked
Lucknow: First, Hindu lawyers of Lucknow beat up and misbehaved with Muslim lawyers, advocates Mohammad Shoeb and M. A. Faridi, who were pleading the cases of Muslim youths arrested on allegations of terrorism, and then the decision was taken to cancel the Lucknow Bar Association membership of the two pleaders. As a result, when the court opened on 20 August, after three days' leave, much tension prevailed as Hindu and Muslim pleaders appeared divided, while everyone was discussing the thrashing of Muslim pleaders.
When the police staff came to advocates Mohammad Shoeb and M. A. Faridi to enquire about their well-being, Hindu lawyers misbehaved with them too. Not only this, when the incident was reported to senior police officers, they only rebuked the policemen, saying what was the need to enquire about those lawyers. This clearly shows that Lucknow police has been involved in these incidents by omission or commission and that it is only on this account that no action has been taken against the assailants in spite of these developments which are widely reported and discussed. Since these incidents of violence kept reverberating in courts, activities there remained virtually stopped.
Advocate Mohammad Shoeb has challenged his expulsion from Lucknow Bar Association in Allahabad High Court, apprising with complete details to the administrative judge of the high court as also to V.P. Bar Council. He is waiting for action on his complaints. He said that human rights related conference is being organized in Hyderabad on August 23 and he will go there. Besides eminent legal experts like H. A. Alvi, Mushtaq Ahmad Siddiqui, Waseem Siddiqui, Fazl-e-Alam Haider, religious leaders including Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahalli, Maulana Nayeemur Rahman Siddiqui and Maulana Iqbal Qadiri, have also expressed their concern, demanding full protection to Muslim lawyers.
Courtesy Milli Gazette 1- 15 September 2008