AISPLB Urges Diplomatic Intervention for Indian Shias Held In Arab Countries
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Friday, AISPLB general secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas said the issue was humanitarian in nature and required urgent intervention by the government.
Abbas said that the All India Shia Personal Law Board had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the Center to engage diplomatically with the governments of the countries concerned and ensure the safety and legal rights of the detained Indian citizens.
“We have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to treat this as a serious humanitarian issue. These Indian citizens deserve protection, justice and every possible diplomatic effort for their safe release and return to India,” said Maulana Yasoob Abbas, while sharing the names of 11 Indians detained in several Persian Gulf countries at the press conference.
The memorandum stated that several Indian Shia Muslims had reportedly been detained in countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, allegedly because of their religious beliefs.
According to the Board, many of them had travelled abroad only in search of employment and a better future.
“The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies must immediately engage with the authorities of the concerned countries to ensure the detainees receive fair treatment, legal assistance and are repatriated without unnecessary delay,” Abbas said.
Source: TheHindu
