MM Akbar remanded in 5-day police custody

Kochi, Feb 27: Multi-religion scholar and educationist MM Akbar, who was arrested at Hyderabad airport on Sunday morning after he arrived from Australia, is now being grilled by Kerala police, who suspect that he tried to effect “conversions” through his organisation.

The managing director of Peace Education Foundation, was on Monday produced before the Ernakulam Judicial Magistrate Court which remanded him in police custody for five days though the investigation officers asked for seven days. “He was slapped with charges under 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language).

During interrogation, we’ll quiz him on all angles, including suspected links with terror agencies,” said investigation officer and assistant commissioner of police (Ernakulam) K. Laljy.

“We will try to find out whether the classes in his schools were focusing more on religion and what was taught in the school,” he said.

The case was registered in October 2016 based on a complaint by the district education officer that the school was teaching textbooks propagating communal hatred.

A probe by the education department found the school wasn’t teaching from texts recommended by the NCERT, CBSE or SCERT, but followed textbooks compiled by a Mumbai-based Islamic educational institution.

Portions of a class 2 optional textbook were leaked, in which there were objective type questions on what the students would do “if their friend wanted to convert to Islam,” “how to deal with non-Muslims” and “how many of you are willing to die for Islam? Think, think think.” The textbook was immediate withdrawn. Akbar had clarified that it was just an optional textbook. Besides the textbook was published by a Mumbai based publishing house.

Cops collected religious texts and study materials from the school during an inspection held afterwards following suspicion that Merin, a teacher with the school, had allegedly joined the Islamic State. However, M M Akbar has delivered several speeches against terrorism and warned youth against joining terror outfits like Islamic State, which according to him is defaming Islam.

In December 2016, three Mumbai-based publishers were arrested for printing the textbooks with objectionable content. In January last, the state government ordered closure of the Kochi-based Peace School based on a report submitted by the district collector and the district education officer.

Akbar was held from Hyderabad airport by immigration officials based on a lookout notice issued by the Kochi police earlier. He was on his way from Australia to Qatar via Malaysia and landed in Hyderabad for a brief stopover.

A four-member squad led by Vipin Das, sub-inspector of police, Ernakulam North, soon left for Hyderabad and recorded his arrest at11.30 am on Sunday. The team brought him back to Kochi later in the day.

Abkar’s arrest, however, was questioned by several quarters. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government was behaving like Modi, persecuting Muslims on trumped-up charges.

Also Read: M M Akbar arrested in Hyderabad en-route to Qatar; likely to be grilled by Kerala police

Comments

When People of the Society become AWARE of their CREATOR(True God), The people in ruling or who run the society will never want PEOPLE to know the TRUTH of the ONENESS of GOD...They use their own Pappu MEDIA to demonize the individual like MM Akbar, ZN, who convey the message of oneness of God and they want the society to know the REALITY of the ONENESS of GOD and to dependent on him ALONE rather than getting decieved by the religious tekedar in disguise of fake swamis and others even in muslim community they have such fake babas. Everything happens with the will of ALLAH.. have patience. I REQUEST those who look for the TRUTH to listen to lectures of MM AKBAR and Zakir Naik and YOU JUDGE if they promote terrorism.... Allah has made HUMAN being BEST of his CREATION, Use YOUR GOD given INTELLECT and YOu will RECOGNIZE the REALITY of this kind of DECEPTION goin on since 911. God is with those who r TRUTHFUL....and Successful are those who recognize the TRUE GOD. May ALLAH guide us to the TRUTH.

brother you don't know nothing. pleas don't comment for anything which you have no knowledge. If your hatred is against Muslims thats your problem. But we muslims love every religion that exists on this earth. what is MM Akbar, What is Dr. Zakir Naik, we know about them. If you utter something baseless comments with communal intensity, thats not our problem. Try to acquire knowledge, be a peace lover, be a human and understand what is humanity. May God bless you.

The said book was published by one of mumbai publication and taught by many institution , he may aware contents of books written on it .. but he may not aware , these kind of hues and cries may arise or probably he might not guess , some people may find very dangerous philosophy on that book.... to my knowledge , purticular book is not banned , still under court observation... peace school stopped teaching that book...

until now , no compaint is lodged against school or school director M.M Akber by any school staffs or parents of students... govt voluntarily want to stop 3 schools out 13 schools managed by peace school management .. but court stayed govt intention .. school still run smoothly... people of kerala still under confusion , on what basis govt of kerala send look out notice and arrested him..?

The real Terrorists are out of jail and they can do, tell anything. Innocents are inside the jail.

I read that question and answer choices. Total stupidity. It will make kids to think differently. It will distort kids mind and will create stupid mindset.

Atleast they can give good intention choices.

"Suppose your friend Adam/Suzanne has decided to become a Muslim, among the choices what advice will you give?"

The choices given are:

a. he/she has to change her name to Ahmed/Sara immediately

b. he/she is wearing a chain and will need to remove it

c. learn the shahada

d. runaway from home as parents are not Muslims

e. eat halal chicken

Anybody can tell that lie.. he didnt aware of that content mean pure negligence.. Being the MD of peace school he should check everything or atleast there should be people to do that. MM Akbar knows it better that easy to spread hatred thought through children. He should be punish properly

Hidden agenda behind this arrest. He already rubbishes the allegation of text book. he dont have any role in that and he told he didnt aware of that controversial content