Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham

Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (Tamil Nadu Muslim Progress Conference) is a Muslim non-governmental organization established in the state of Tamil Nadu in India in 1995. Also called the TMMK, it has described itself in news releases as "a mass based" organization.cite web |url= http://www.milligazette.com/IndMusStat/2004a/016-TMMK-5dec04.htm |title= 2004: Indian Muslim Statements |author= TMMK news release |work= The Milli Gazette |date= 5 December 2004 |quote= ]

Activities

In February 2005, the TMMK urged the then-Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram to direct the Wakf Board to send all its communications only in the Tamil language to the administrators of mosques.cite web |url= http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/20/stories/2005022007200400.htm |title= TMMK demand |author= Staff reporter |work= The Hindu |date= 20 February 2005 |quote= ]

A March 2007 rally organized by the TMMK in New Delhi drew support from the Association of Indian Muslims (AIM) of America.cite web |url= http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/march/07/indian_muslim/american_muslims_support_muslim_welfare_rally_at_the_indian_parliament.html |title= American Muslims Support Muslim Welfare Rally at the Indian Parliament |author= [http://www.aimamerica.org/ Association of Indian Muslims of America] news release |work= Indian Muslims website based in Jupiter, Florida |date= 7 March 2007 |quote= Kaleem Kawaja, president of Association of Indian Muslims (AIM) gave his organization's support to the rally organized by Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Khazgam (TMMK) which seek to uplift the Muslim community in India… AIM demanded that the central and state governments implement specific and properly funded programs to alleviate the extraordinary educational and socioeconomic backwardness of the Muslims of India. ]

The TMMK has campaigned for the reservation of seats in educational institutions and the ear-marking of entrepreneurship schemes for Muslims in Tamil Nadu as per the recommendations of the Sachar Committee.cite web |url= http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20070616/689639.html |title= TMMK appeals to Centre, state to stick to reservation |author= United News of India |work= Webindia123.com |date= 16 June 2007 |quote= ]

A TMMK spokesman, in March 2007, expressed support of the practice of Rajm (death by stoning).cite web |url= http://www.indianexpress.com/story/26668.html |title= In Tamil Nadu town, fundamentalists play moral cops, even kill to have way |author= Jaya Menon |work= The Indian Express |date= 25 March 2007 |quote= Many in the town believe that Mumtaz deserved it,” said Abdul Subahan (18), the district secretary of the student wing of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazham, a political outfit which police think is linked to Al Umma… Said Dr Bhagat Singh, the TMMK’s district secretary: “…To prevent such incidents, the Government should introduce the practice of stoning immoral women to death. Many Middle-East countries follow this practice and keep women under check. That’s the only way to handle such issues. ]

The Tamil Nadu Thawheedh Jamaath (TNTJ) has been termed "a breakaway group" of the organization.cite web |url= http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/30/stories/2006083010940300.htm |title= Wakf Board takes possession of mosque; tension at Melapalayam |author= Staff reporter |work= The Hindu |date= 30 August 2006 |quote= ]

Criticism

The TMMK is believed to be controlled by former Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) cadres, who have been implicated in many terrorist acts. [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume16/Article5.htm Tamil Nadu: The Rise of Islamist Fundamentalism] , by P.G. Rajamohan, South Asia Terrorism Portal] The TMMK urged the Union government (the government of India) to lift the ban on SIMI in 2005.cite web |url= http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/25/stories/2005092504610400.htm |title= Lift ban on SIMI: TMMK |author= Staff reporters |work= The Hindu |date= 25 September 2007 |quote= ] Haifa University political scientist David Bukay lists the TMMK as a "fundamentalist and subversive group." [cite book | last = Bukay | first = David | authorlink = David Bukay | title = Muhammad's Monsters: A Comprehensive Guide to Radical Islam for Western Audiences P177-178 | year = 2004 | publisher = New Leaf Press | language = English | isbn = 0892215763 | chapter = | quote = Evidence of these processes [preparation for large-scale acts of terror] is mounting throughout India, and is reflected in the number of fundamentalist and subversive groups that exist, and the geographical spread of their activities. The most prominent of these include the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, the All India Milli Council, All India Jihad Committee, The People's Democratic Party, Muslim United Front, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham, National Development Front, Students Islamic Movement of India, among others ]

Activists of the TMMK and the Islamist al-Umma have been known to express communalist sentiments against Hindus in riots and protests. They are regarded as part of a covert network of Islamic Fundamentalist political outfits established in the region. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1712/17120490.htm Indicting the police ] Frontline Magazine - June 10 - 23, 2000] [ [http://dwelle.de/southasia/print/1.190235.1.html Beyond Territorial Disputes] by Kuldeep Kumar, [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,266,00.html Deutsche Welle] 2007]

After the 1998 Coimbatore bombings and the communal violence that ensued from it, members of the TMMK were arrested following the banning of the related Jihadist group al-Umma (listed in Extremist Groups) who were directly behind the blasts. Leaders of the Jihad Committee and the TMMK were arrested in a State-wide crackdown. Among those arrested were the TMMK president M.H. Jawahirulla and treasurer G.M. Pakkar. Over the next few days, many activists of the TMMK were arrested at Keezhakkarai, Devakottai, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Nagercoil, Melapalayam and Udumalpet as a precautionary measure. [ [http://www.appiusforum.com/terrorism.html Behind the Coimbatore tragedy] , by T. Subramaniyam, Frontline 15 (05) 1998]

On December 6, 2003, 450 activists of the TMMK were arrested for attempting to instigate a communal riot. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/12/07/stories/2003120705180100.htm Anniversary ends peacefully] The Hindu - December 07, 2003] Similar arrests were made earlier in 2000 where TMMK members were implicated. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001212/nation.htm Bandh against attack on mosque] The Tribune, Chandigarh - December 12, 2000]

After the 11 July 2006 Mumbai Train Bombings, the TMMK and other Islamist organizations are being closely monitored by authorities for terrorist links. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/18/stories/2006071803630300.htm Police on alert after Mumbai blasts] The Hindu - July 13, 2006]

References

External links

* [http://www.tmmkonline.org/english/index.htm Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham] website (English language version).