Kaveeta Kaul
Intelligence sources have confirmed Indian Engineer from Bangalore Kafeel Ahmed as the driver of the truck in the failed terror attack on Glasgow Airport. He is presently in hospital with 90% burn injuries.
Another first to India’s credit.. the first Indians involved in terrorism outside India!
The myth that terrorism had as its breeding ground illiteracy and poverty is now shattered. Multiculturalism, education and extremism are terms which behoove serious analysis in this volatile scenario.
Kafeel Ahmed, the man who made a deadly leap of faith from an engineer to a terrorist. He is believed to have left a suicide note.
Media reports in the UK say Kafeel Ahmed was very sure about himself. He may be battling for his life, having suffered 90% burns while carrying out the failed attack – but he was ready to die. In fact, Kafeel had left a suicide note at his house before crashing a jeep loaded with crude bombs into Glasgow Airport.
Kafeel’s links with a senior al Qaeda operative are also been looked at. He is believed to have been radicalized by extremist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir in 2004, when he was doing research at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
Prior to this, Kafeel came in touch with one of al Qaeda’s top bomb makers, Abbas Boutrab. He met Boutrab in Belfast while studying for a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering at Queen’s University between 2001 and 2004. Boutrab was later arrested in Belfast, and is currently serving a six-year jail term.
The involvement of Kafeel and his younger brother Sabeel has come as a shock, if reports are to be believed to their neighbours. On hindsight however, their clues provide the vital links.
Worshippers at the Hazrat Tippu mosque, opposite the family’s house, say the first indication that the brothers may have taken to radicalism was in 2001, before Kafeel’s first trip to the UK.
“The mosque had been decorated for Id with lights. The sons of Dr Maqbool Ahmed objected to the lights saying it is un-Islamic,” said mosque secretary Samiullah. “We told them not to come around with such messages again. After that they stayed off.”
He said the two brothers, brought up in the strict Deoband way of life by their father, were also unhappy that the mosque authorities did not object to worshipping at dargahs. The brothers also reportedly joined the radical Tableeghi Jammat.
“Then the elder son went abroad. The younger son became a doctor and was helping his doctor parents run a nursing home in Bismillah Nagar. That was around two years ago,” said Samiullah. “Then Dr Maqbool began displaying signs of mental illness and they decided to sell the hospital. The younger son also went abroad.”
When the seed is sown , fruit will ripen. The question is how does the interpretation of the Koran then assimilate so deeply in apparently progressive minds, to justify murder by the thousands, which it might have resulted in had the plot not failed.
Is alienation the trigger for subversive methods of retribution to gain foothold? If so, then in this day and age where individual accomplishment gains precedence over every other sense of achievement, why is that the Islamic sect, more than any other, has resorted to barbarities almost neanderthal in their application? The Koran has 164 verses on ‘Jihad’. .as appeared number one when googled.
Read through to get an idea. Needless to quote it might endanger the purpose of this post by misrepresenting the core issue. One does not wish to label and generalise. This causes resentment and will only proliferate alienation/victimisation which might have been the catalyst in the first place.
The question is how does one successfully cause attrition of terroristic activities? Its not possible for the world to morph into one which conforms to terrorist demands. We can at best hope that basic underlying causes are unearthed, investigated, analysed and healed.
To surmise:
# Youth radicalization, especially the educated in fields of engineering and computers, indoctrinated with jihadi sentiments is a growing number .
# Moderate voices cannot afford the luxury to be unconcerned/apathetic by keeping their silence. If Islam is not only about jihad and texts that instigate violence, then they ought to make their opinion known or forever accept ‘Islamophobia’ as a ground reality.
#Scholars steeped in the teaching of Koran and its moderate interpretation urgently need to emphasise the context of the Jihadi texts, written in times when Islam had yet not gained foothold. Therefore the need to defend its tenets and its teachings from being annihilated forever led to militant verses which glorified killings as the ‘Word Of Allah’. It is paramount that this be instilled in youth that times have changed. Islam is the largest sect in the world and therefore those portions need not be interpreted in its entirety if not considered redundant.
Sachiniti 
We can at best hope that basic underlying causes are unearthed, investigated, analysed and healed——
arent u becoming too naive kavita????so i woould say that this step should have beeen adapted towards hitlers’ antisemitism ?? what say ???
these are menace to a free society and they shoudl be dealt by free hand …
Comment by Manoj — July 9, 2007 @ 2:35 pm |
Not naive imo..just far sighted. Too many innocent lives at stake globally Manoj. If you recall the train blasts last year was the handiwork of just 12 fanatics and thousands upon thousands were wiped out.Violence begets violence and the conundrum continues. Hack the roots of the far reaching tentacles of disruptive activities, maturedly, albeit firmly and deftly.
What in your opinion is ‘dealt by free hand’?
Comment by kaveetaakaul — July 9, 2007 @ 2:45 pm |
ooops, i meant firm hand … while multitasking at office , slip of the fingers on the keyboard.
Comment by Manoj — July 9, 2007 @ 3:24 pm |
Morality clearly states that all killing is bad and should be condemned, except when someone is fighting in self defense. Even then the “fight” should be restricted to those that are fighting against you not innocent civilians. Guess who was the first suicide bomber in the history of mankind? It was Hercules. In Greek mythology his “SELF-SACRIFICE” obtained him the ascent to the Olympian realms and he was welcomed by the Gods. Hence from the dawn of time, one man’s terrorist is has been just another’s freedom fighter / hero. George Washington was labeled a terrorist. Bhagat Singh was considered a terrorist. All the early leaders of present day Israel were once condemned as terrorist. Does this mean that so called terrorism is Ok. The answer is no, it is not OK. But neither is state terrorism, or the causes that compels a human to loose all hope and blow himself up. Sadly “Suicide Bombing” has become the last resort or the “Great Equalizer” for some. In this battle between present day David and Goliath, suicide bombing is the sling shot.
Anyway let us come back to present times. One might nor be able to name a single religion except Islam who’s land is occupied and assets (oil, water & land) under seize. While UN recognizes this atrocity, it has continued for a long time. Today, Iraq’s oil is being plundered in broad day light. Most people all over the world understand that the reason given for the Gulf War (the war on terrorism) is pure bull shit, yet no one, no court, no government has been able to stop it. Therefore lets us put things in context, suicide bombing exists because all kind of occupation and subjugation exists. Let there be freedom (true freedom) for all. let there be equality and justice for all and I bet you this so called terrorism will also vanish. Remember there can be no chicken without eggs and no eggs without chicken. Let us just not be selective with our disapproval, let us erase the cause and the effect. Otherwise sadly this will never end.
We all deserve a better world and for that to happen we have to be more honest about issues. Here is to hoping for a world free of any kind of killing and murder.
Comment by Shaan Khan — July 9, 2007 @ 6:49 pm |
the koran instigates violence!!!!!!!stop teaching that Shaan khan!!!!dont make excuses for the terror
Comment by anonymous — July 10, 2007 @ 3:50 pm |
Anonymous
It is ignorance of religion that leads to violence. It is abuse of religion that leads to violence. It is the dark shadows in humans that lead to violence. Ever since the French & the Russian revolution the forces of secularism is their zeal to make secularism the world currency have beat up on all religions (please I am not saying that secularism in itself is bad). Today all religions are a pale and compromised version of their true self. Religious knowledge has disappeared. Religion itself has been hijacked. The result is there for all to see. In the name of religion everyone everywhere are merely killing and murdering. It appears that the lessons on patience, truth, justice, compassion etc have been forgotten. People around the world practice just one religion, and that is hate. Erik Erikson has become our prophet. As they say when goodness disappears evil takes it place.
The choice is ours. Stop thinking less of anyone/any religion. Seeks justice and equality for all. When oppression and occupation ends, you will find the the world also very peaceful.
Comment by Shaan Khan — July 10, 2007 @ 6:28 pm |
Shaan in response to #4
You mentioned Bhagat Singh.. First of all he was fighting a war of independence and dealing with those who had plundered directly. Second.. Innocent women, children, people were not mass murdered.Third.. what got us our independence finally was non violence and Gandhi and his non co operation.
Terrorists kill randomly. To put it simply you cannot kill Paul to avenge Peter. Their grievances are conjectured,fractured and non specific.Their resorting to violence as a substitute for dialogue is unpalatable.
Ofcourse an environ of fairness ought to exist. Solution hunting was the purpose of the post. I fact I included a few points in the main text on mulling over it.
As for #6.. agree in toto!
Comment by kaveetaakaul — July 10, 2007 @ 9:49 pm |
Kav:
On a cold winter night the hunters gathers around the camp fire and exchanged stories of their conquests. Everyone took turns to brag about the “Wild Animal” they had killed. One young innocent child amongst them turned to his father and asked, “What about Ahmed who was killed by the Lion”. The father responded, “Well, when the Lion learns to read, write & speak, he will tell his story”. Unfortunately we only know one side of the story. It has hence become easy to condemn selectively.
If you study history it becomes very apparent that those that don’t roll over and play dead and those that resist oppression and occupation and have been always termed as terrorists. Read Tolstoy’s “Haji Murad” and you will understand all about this. This is not new, what we see today is no different than what has always been. Atleast since the 50s the “empires” have tried a different approach with their colonies. Gone are the days of direct rule. Now things are done via proxies. (e.g. Ruthless Dictators, Corrupt Politician, Vested NGOs etc). I look at Africa and feel guilt and shame. In the Middle East the only difference is that they are putting up a hard to win fighting.
Once again Michael Crichton’s “State of Fear” comes to mind. Although the novel appears to be about environmental terrorism it actually is an astounding commentary on the use of hate and fear.
Hence if we want a better future start by eliminating the hate within us.
Comment by Shaan Khan — July 11, 2007 @ 1:22 am |
Kav:
I would love to address some points you have raised but fear addressing them in a public forum turns into a futile exercise. Not everyone is like the honorable Gajanan (who appears to be sincere in his position vis a vis Global Warming). It is a pleasure talking to Gajanan (or people with his type of faculties) and frustrating otherwise.
Comment by Shaan Khan — July 11, 2007 @ 3:16 am |
In response to #8 Shaan I can only speak for myself..hate is not an emotion I have experienced..Agitated, disturbed, harassed etc to a degree.Neither is condemnation to the slightest degree implied. An honest approach evaluating causes and exploring for answers is the only intent. The rest of the comment I am sorry but I could not find its relevance to this situation. We should not be looking for excuses or explanations Shaan..only solutions.
#9 ..Cool..no probs. I understand.
Comment by kaveetaakaul — July 11, 2007 @ 5:45 pm |
Kav
My comments regarding hate in #8 was not directed at you. I agree that sustainable, fair, and balanced solutions are needed. For too long we have seen knee jerk reactions and the situation has just got worse.
Comment by Shaan Khan — July 11, 2007 @ 9:17 pm |
“Religion is not above nation” – I don’t understand why some people don’t get this and i’m surprised it’s educated people indulging in these hineous crimes and getting bad name to the entire nation.The problem with our country is, the minute somebody is proved guilty it takes the color of caste and religion.Some years back when an MP was caught on camera taking bribe , he said coz he was from the backward class , he was made a scape goat and there are numerous examples where caste, religion and sometimes even region became obstacle in taking severe action against the anti social and anti national elements .Why don’t we look the hard facts( no matter how bitter they are to digest) as they are ?As long as this goes on i seriouly doubt India becoming a super power.If this was not enough our honourable PM was quoted saying “he had sleepless nights …..”.I was not at all surprised with his statement .Our politicians are used to singing “secular raaga”.He would never ever have “sleepless nights” for the victims of terror attacks.Even after one year our police couldn’t catch the people behind the 7/11 blasts.Yes , nobody is guilty unless proved but till then our media and politicians shouldn’t make any statements in favour or against the allegedly involved people, though in this case they were guilty.
Comment by Aneesh — July 13, 2007 @ 2:47 pm |
check this out for some interesting posts
http://www.sandeepweb.com
Comment by Aneesh — July 13, 2007 @ 7:07 pm |
In India , secularism = anti hinduism + appeasement of minorities
and only hindhu temples come under the endowment act and all the money from the hindu temples is being misused / used … where is equality and the slogan “all are equal in the eyes of law” is a big farce in india.
Comment by anonymous — July 14, 2007 @ 12:47 pm |
The PM did not have a memorial service for the July 11th victims. Even silently standing up or deputing somenone on his behalf to Mumbai would have gone a long way to give solace to victims’ relatives There is philosophical analyis. “It is the clothing given to the soul which causes all the sorrow. The body after it perishes, the soul becomes sublimal , without any religious connotation” The PM and the UPA govt did not know even this simple philosophy. What a state of affairs Mother India has come to. We even cannot even mourn the death of innocents. Looks like the govt carries the prejudice from the maternity ward to the creamatorium or burial place. Understand , Understand, Oh , you Govt , once buried or cremated, there is no body left , there is only souls and souls have no labels.
Comment by Anonymous1 — July 16, 2007 @ 5:11 am |
#Aneesh, sometimes I find myself despairing over the thought that religion has and will be the centrifugal point of conflicts not only in India but worldwide..when what they preach is the opposite. One doesnt know whether to grieve at the ignorance of terrorism based propoganda or feel amused. Thanks for the link.
#You are so right in drawing attention to this Anonymous1. Even if the trigger was not philosophical (politicians and philosophy are antithetical terms)it was a simple enough ceremony of concern that should have been implemented. But since the returns were not openly explicit, the need therefore relegated to nothingness. There was no question of minority appeasement or vote banks here..
Comment by kaveetaakaul — July 16, 2007 @ 2:47 pm |