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Most of the accused in gold smuggling at Malappuram Airport in Kerala are Muslims

  • Statement by Kerala’s ruling party MLA K T Jaleel

  • Jaleel also appealed Muslim clerics to issue fatwas advising people to stay away from criminal activities
MLA Jaleel

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) – ‘Christians should come forward against some wrong actions by Christians and Muslim community should pay attention to the crimes committed by Muslims. Hindus should also look into the wrong practices in their society. Most of the people caught in the gold smuggling case around the Karipur (Malappuram) International Airport belong to the Muslim community. Muslim clerics should issue fatwas advising people to stay away from gold smuggling and hawala (money transfer system) dealings’, MLA K T Jaleel, from the ruling Left Democratic Front, said. This statement has caused controversy.

1. Jaleel made this statement in the context of the smuggling incidents at Kozhikode airport. Most of the smugglers involved were Muslims. Jaleel accused a Maulvi (Islamic religious leader) of smuggling gold by hiding it in the Quran while returning from a Hajj pilgrimage; however, he did not reveal the cleric’s identity.

2. P.M.A. Salam, senior leader of the Indian Union Muslim League, criticised Jaleel, questioning where he got the information from that Muslims are involved in smuggling. He demanded that Jaleel should apologise immediately for making such a statement.

3. MLA Anwar also criticised Jaleel’s statement, calling it the worst thing to have come from his public life.

4. In Kerala, gold smuggling incidents have increased in recent years, especially around the Kozhikode Airport in Malappuram District. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier mentioned in a press conference that data shows a large amount of gold and money are being smuggled through hawala channels from Malappuram District.

I did not speak against Islam, Jaleel clarifies

Jaleel has given an explanation after a controversy arose over his statement. He said that he did not speak against Islam. His intention was to make clerics aware that gold smuggling and hawala activities go against religious principles. He emphasized that he was only pointing out that most of the arrested individuals were Muslims. He did not make any accusations against the entire community. The Muslim community should understand that these actions are against religion. He called for religious leaders to issue fatwas for public awareness, which was not intended to be anti-Islamic.

BJP and Congress condemn Jaleel’s statement

BJP leader V. Muraleedharan stated that India has laws against crimes, and these laws are based on the Constitution. Jaleel’s statement goes against the core values of the Constitution, and he should have spoken more carefully on the matter.

Congress leader Shafi Parambil said that India is a democratic country, and any illegal activity should be resolved through legal means, not by fatwas. Jaleel’s statement sends the wrong message to society and goes against the democratic framework of the country.

Jaleel had also been investigated earlier

In 2020, while Jaleel was the State’s Higher Education Minister, the Customs Department had investigated him in a case related to gold smuggling through the UAE Consulate. A case of gold smuggling was also registered against him. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had summoned him for questioning.

Editorial Perspective

It is surprising that a Muslim MLA is making such a statement. Despite being a minority in the country, Muslims are often seen as the majority in crimes, as Jaleel’s statement seems to imply.

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