मुसलमान शक के घेरे में ।

For a majority of Indian Muslims, the terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Indian Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jehad, Al-Badr, Deccan Mujahideen may be alien but because of these elusive organisations, the community is being seen with suspicion. The series of terror attacks in recent past has definitely left an adverse impact on the psyche of Muslims, particularly the youth who have developed a sense of insecurity. "The frustration among them is leading them to nowhere," said Prof Shamim Ahmad Munami. Mohammad Afzal said he is upset. "My friends have started looking at me with suspicion," said the 22-year-old science student living in one of the private lodges in dingy lanes in Sabzibagh. "Like me several others are being ignored and sidelined for no fault of us. Our friends look at us as if we are responsible for the Mumbai terror," lamented a visibly shaken youth. "Muslims are indeed suffering from fear psychosis due to the misdeeds of a few," said Syed Akbar Ali, a retired professor of psychology. "Terrorists may be Muslim by birth but they are actually radical Muslims who have fully deviated from Islamic ethos. Islam preaches peace and compassion and those indulging in violence are only defaming the religion," he asserted. However, prominent surgeon Dr A A Hai disagreed. "I don't think Muslims are feeling guilty. Some may be feeling shaky while some ashamed but majority of Muslims feel whatever is happening is wrong and they condemn it," he said. "If a person, identified as Muslim, is killing innocents then he cannot be a Muslim," he added. "The entire community cannot be blamed for the misdeeds of a few people nor can terrorism be seen through any religious angle," said Advantage Media managing director Khurshid Ahmad. Tagging violence to religion will be counter-productive, he added. Maulana Anisur Rahman Quasmi of Imarat Shariah was critical of the tendency to link religion with terror. "This is very harmful for the country and it is badly affecting the psyche of youths of all religions," he said. All India Muslim Personal Law Board general secretary Maulana Syed Nizamuddin refused to share the perception that only Muslims are involved in terrorism. "The Mumbai attack was a well planned conspiracy and it cannot be a handiwork of a handful of Muslims. Everything should be seen in totality whether it is the Batla House encounter or Malegaon blasts," the cleric said.