Criticisms arise against the American Ifthar in Kerala

By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,

Kochi: The ifthar party organized by the US Embassy in Kerala is drawing strong criticism from leading Muslim organizations as well as the Communist party. The Communist Party of India (M) came forward with strong criticism against the ifthar organized in Thrissur in central Kerala for Muslim leaders and organizations. Larry Schwartz, the Minister-Counsellor for Public Affairs at the US embassy in New Delhi, organized the ifthar on behalf of the US Embassy in New Delhi and the US Consulate in Chennai at the Hotel Ashoka Inn in the city on September 9.

Baby John, Thrissur district secretary of the CPI (M), opined that the ifthar was a sign of the US plan to enter all walks of life in the country. He also attacked the Nadvathul Mujahideen, whose leaders attended the ifthar.

The Popular Front of India had last day called for all Muslim organizations to be careful of the tricks of the US. Earlier the US had arranged free trips to their country for selected leaders from the community. Now they are trying to penetrate into the community through ifthars. However, it is noteworthy that the major organizations kept away from the ifthar, the organization added in its statement.

The Forum for Faith and Fraternity, based in Ernakulam, attended the ifthar meet, but also wrote a letter to Mr Schwartz about the organization’s disagreement with the US policies.

At the function, Mr Schwartz said that the US was not the enemy of Muslims, and that the ifthar was organized to strengthen the friendship between the US and Muslims. The videos of the famous Cairo speech and the Ramadan speech (made in the White House) of the US President Barak Obama were shown. Larry Schwartz also held a special talk with the guests. The guests opined that the US should admit the Iraq invasion was wrong. They also criticized the US policies in Palestine and Afghanistan.

Dr Husain Madavoor and Mujeeb Rahman Kinaloor (Nadvathul Mujahideen), KV Muhammed Sakkeer, Dr M Usman and Muhammed Mather (Forum for Faith and Fraternity), O Abdurahman Kutty, Thrissur District Congress President, AM HAris, PK Qader Mon, KK Kochu Muhammed, Congress Minority Cell state president, KV Muhammed Azeez, Jaleel (CAP INDIA), M Abdul Jabbar, PK Kochu Muhammed, Joseph Pulikuthiyil (Jananeethi), VA Abdul Latheef, Adv AY Khalid, and Dr Abdul Azeez, director of Daya Hospital, attended the ifthar. K Abdussalam Master was the coordinator of the meet.