“Jamaat does not have any right to do politics in Bangladesh,” Says the Son of Jamaat-e-Islami Party’s Founder

Syed Haider Farooq Maudoodi, son of Syed Abul A'la Maudoodi, founder of Jamaat-e-Islami Party

 Photo courtesy: DhakaTribune

Syed Haider Farooq Maudoodi (69) is the son of Syed Abul A’la Maudoodi (1903 - 1979), the founder of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party . He is a columnist in Lahore, Pakistan, and a former airlines pilot. On October 6, the DhakaTribune published his interview that deals with Jamaat-e-Islami Party’s politics, state religion, Islam and politics, war crimes and War Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka and so on. 

To a question, Syed Haider Maudoodi replied, “Jamaat does not have any right to do politics in Bangladesh, particularly when they opposed the birth of it [Bangladesh]. They neither have the right, nor should they be allowed to do politics here…I think it is your leaders’ fault. Your leaders allowed them to do politics in this country after the independence. If you allow them, accept the fact that their politics is based on religion.”

He further added, “The question is who is behind this situation in Bangladesh? See, the constitution Sheikh Saheeb (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) left is no more in the country [Bangladesh]. How did that happen? Who changed it? One needs to think about these too…Sheikh Saheeb banned Jamaat, isn’t it? Then who allowed them to come back again? You were in this country, think about it. Until and unless you find out where the power lies, which is supporting Jamaat, you would not reach the root of the problem.”

To another question on Islam and politics, he replied, “Whenever religion was interpreted in a political way, it killed humans and it ruined humanity…The holy Quran does not talk about politics, it rather talks for the person so that one can become better.”

He adds, “Political interpretation of religion always brings destruction in the society. Nowhere in the holy Quran does it talk about administering others. The holy Quran talks about individuals. It is about a person, not about administration or a system….”

About war crimes and the War Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka he says, “Anywhere, if any people commit crimes against humanity, s/he needs to be punished. If those people have committed such crimes then they undoubtedly need to be punished. Locals (Bangladeshi) also had a duty to not let them do politics after independence. Who let them come back to politics here?”

For the long and detailed interview of Syed Haider Farooq Maudoodi, you may visit, “Religion based politics is the biggest threat,” published in the DhakaTribune.