India's Sunni clerics call convention in support of Saudi Arabia following uproar against excutions by the regime

The Indian Express

Al-Nimr execution: Sunni clerics call convention in support of Saudi Arabia, its king

Organised by ‘Majlis Tahaffuz-e-Namoosa-e-Sahaba’, the convention is being held to defend Saudi Arab and expose the alleged “conspiracy against holy shrines” at Mecca and Medina.

Written by Mohd Faisal Fareed
Lucknow Published:Jan 17, 2016, 8:58

Shia Muslims recently held protests against Nimra Killing in Saudi Arabia at old city of Lucknow. (Source: Express file photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Shia Muslims recently held protests against Nimra Killing in Saudi Arabia at old city of Lucknow. (Source: Express file photo by Vishal Srivastav)Amid ongoing protests by the Shia sect over execution of cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, prominent Sunni clerics including chairman of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Rabey Hasan Nadwi and Rector of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom-Deoband Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani will address a convention in support of Saudi government in Lucknow on January 27.
Organised by ‘Majlis Tahaffuz-e-Namoosa-e-Sahaba’, the convention is being held to defend Saudi Arab and expose the alleged “conspiracy against holy shrines” at Mecca and Medina.

“There is a conspiracy against our holy shrines. Saudi King Shah Salman is Khadim of holy shrines. His picture was defaced and Saudi Arab’s flag burnt during recent protests in Lucknow. We have high regards for Saudi Arabia and its King. We are against such mentality that is against the Saudi Arabia. We will make the Muslim community aware of the conspiracy and expose the people behind it,” Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqui, president, Majlis Tahaffuz-e-Namoosa-e-Sahaba told The Indian Express.
The convention will be held at Maulana Shakoor Hall in the old city. Clerics from other states too are expected to attend the event.
Recently, there have been several protests against Saudi Arab in Uttar Pradesh against the hanging of Shia cleric Nimr.
“There is conspiracy by some to paint wrong picture of Saudi Arabia. Saudi embassy was attacked in Teheran, which comes under terror activity. We want to expose people who are against Saudi and our holy shrines in mecca and Median. We will not tolerate any words against Saudi King Salman and our shrines,” Farooqui said.
Farooqui, also the general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and member of Majlis-e-Shura, the apex body of Deoband seminary, said, “Besides Maulana Nomani and Maulana Rabey Hasan Nadwi (who is also Rector of Lucknow-based Nadwatul Uloom), Maulana Ahmed Buzurg of Gujarat and several other clerics have confirmed their participation in the conference”.
Imam of Lucknow’s Aishbagh Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli has been entrusted with the responsibility for making arrangements for clerics attending the convention.