600 members of Muslim fishing community seek HC permission to end their lives en masse; here’s why
New Delhi: Facing discrimination and unable to earn a living, 600 members of Muslim fishing community are seeking High Court approval for euthanasia.
They have been living for the past 100 years in Porbandar district, western state of Gujarat. Allarakha Ismailbhai Thimmar, leader of Porbandar’s Muslim fishing community, has approached the Gujarat HC seeking permission for euthanasia for himself and 600 of his people. The petition was filed last week. Being the only Muslim-majority settlement in the area and the only one, their village, Gosabara, has not been allowed to dock fishing boats in the area since 2016.
The state is home to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stronghold of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Euthanasia and attempts to commit suicide are illegal under the Indian Penal Code and also forbidden in Islam.
Arab News quoted Gosabara Muslim Fishermen’s Society President Allarakha Ismailbhai Thimmar as saying, “Since 2016, we have been facing discrimination. They asked us to vacate the village and go to a different district.”
He added that Hindu communities neighboring Gosabara have the same fishing licenses as his village but, unlike them, are allowed to dock their boats.
Dharmesh Gurjar, a lawyer in Ahmedabad, filed the court petition on behalf of the fishermen. He asserted that the case showed a “failure of the state machinery.”
Gurjar said he felt touched by the plight of the Muslim fishermen and added that those people were illiterate and very poor and didn’t have the wherewithal to reach the high court.
He informed that the fishermen were allowed to dock their boats in the village before 2016, but then permission was denied. He further revealed that approval also was not granted when they asked to be allowed to dock in another village, 8 km away. Consequently, the fishermen are suffering and unable to survive. So they approached the court.
“They say that they are like dead wood, and without a decent livelihood it’s better to end life en masse. And they asked for mass euthanasia,” said Gurjar
This is so heart-wrenching ! A leader from a Muslim fishing community in Gujarat has approached the High Court seeking permission to allow euthanasia for himself & 600 members Petition alleges “govt does not provide facilities to people belonging to a particular community”
Allarakha Ismailbhai Thimmar, leader of Porbandar’s Muslim fishing community, has approached the Gujarat HC seeking permission for euthanasia for himself and 600 of his people. They allege authorities are “harassing” their families on the basis of religion
In Gujarat,100 Muslim fishermen families are seeking HC permission for community euthanasia citing political persecution and systemic targeting of the community.
