Islamist parties protest Siddiqui remarks

Different Islamic parties brought out a huge protest procession from Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Jum’a prayers on Friday demanding capital punishment of telecom minister and ruling party lawmaker Abdul Latif Siddiqui for his recent anti-Islamic comments. Islamic parties like Islami Andolon, Dawat-e-Tablig, Khelafat Majlish and Hefajat-e-Islam under the banner of ‘Sammilita Islami Dal’ brought out the procession with brooms and shoes from the North Gate of the national mosque complex which paraded Paltan and Motijheel areas. The prosters chanted slogans demanding arrest, trial and death penalty for Latif Siddiqui for his derogatory comments that hurt the religious sentiment of Muslims. A large number of police and RAB personnel were deployed in the area as many devotees of Friday prayers also joined the protest programme. Posts, telecommunications and information technology minister Latif Siddiqui made derogatory remarks against hajj and Tablig Jamaat at a views-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York on Sept 28, according to UNB.