Educated Muslims victims of crackdown on terror

ON THE TERROR RADAR: Educated Muslims have been under the scanner since the Glasgow terror attack.

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Bangalore: Thirty-six-year-old Rashid Hussein was detained for eight days by the police for questioning in the Jaipur blasts probe. He used to work with Infosys but the IT-giant terminated Hussein's services soon after his detention.

Even though he was given a clean chit by the police, he says he's now tainted for life.

"Why did Infosys terminate my services immediately after my detention, and why didn't they give me chance to clarify my stand on the whole episode?" asks Rashid.

Rashid was voicing the concerns of educated Muslim professionals who feel like the latest victim of the state's crackdown on terror. And experts say this dissent is what terror organisations are waiting to tap into.

Terrorism Expert Major General Afsir Karim says, "Terror organisations are approaching young educated Muslim youth for technical support. They are looking for youth who are already disgruntled."

This is a theory that gained credence after the attack on the Glasgow International Airport. Images of Kafeel and Sabeel Ahmed, key suspects and Bangalore-based professionals were flashed in the media soon after the attack. And a ripple effect was felt in India where now people like Rashid under the terror radar.

In the IT hub of Bangalore, the arrest of techie Yahya Kammakutty lead to a probe into workings of Muslim IT Professionals Association (MITA).

MITA Founder, KM Sharief says "There's this notion that educated Muslims are terrorists, so you have to be more careful about educated Muslims than an average Muslim or an average Indian."

While charges are yet to be proven against them, the clouds of suspicion have left Muslim techies feeling insecure and alienated.

An IT Professional, Mohd Firdaus says, "One of my colleagues faced problems. The management asked her whether she was a Muslim and when she said yes, they refused to allow her in for an interview. This happened twice."

While Rashid will continue to fight for his job at the labour court in Jaipur, he knows his dream run in the country's booming IT industry is close to over.