PFI & SIMI, a threat to Peace or Integrity of Nation? Vaibhav Srivastava LAW CRITIQUE Mon, Jan 06, 2020, at ,12:05 PM What is ‘SIMI’? SIMI stands for Students’ Islamic Movement of India, which is an Islamist organization that was formed in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh in 1977. However, the organization started with the aim of working for the welfare of Muslim youth, but there was a radical shift in its ideology. SIMI works on the basic principles of the Quran, the promotion of Islam & Jihad. The organization is against ‘western ideas’, It also rejects the concept of secularism, democracy & nationalism. It aims for the restoration of ‘ummah’(Muslim Brotherhood), ‘Khilafat’, ‘Caliphate’ & the supremacy of Islam. SIMI is widely believed to be against Hinduism, western beliefs & ideals, as well as other anti-Islamic culture. The SIMI activists were also involved in igniting the aggression against the Muslims, for the demolition of the ‘Babri-Masjid’. According to SIMI, Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is an outstanding example of true Mujahid, who has undertaken Jihad on behalf of the ‘ummah’. SIMI’s interpretation of Islam is influenced to a great extent by writings of Syed Abul A’ala Maududi, founder of the Jammat-e-Islami. SIMI enjoys the support of a large section of the Muslim populace in cities such as Kanpur, Rampur, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Aligarh, Barabanki & Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. In Kerala, SIMI operates under the cover of some 12 organizations. SIMI’s activities have also continued in Assam & West Bengal. SIMI publishes several magazines in various languages, including Vivekam in Malayalam, Sedhi Madal in Tamil, Rupantar in Bengali, Iqraa in Gujarati, Tahreek in Hindi, Al Harkah in Urdu and the Shaheen Times. SIMI declared ‘Unlawful’ SIMI had been termed ‘terrorist’ under a different provision of the UAPA. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) & (2) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central government has declared the SIMI to be an unlawful association. Now, in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 42 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central Government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under Section 7 & Section 8 of the Act. shall be exercised by the state governments & Union territory Administration in relation to the above said unlawful association. What is ‘PFI’? The Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was designated a terrorist organization and subsequently banned in 2001, the PFI was set up in 2006 as a successor to the federation of the National Development Fund(NDF), which was formed in Kerala in 1993. Subsequently emerged as the Manitha Neethi Pasarai(MNP) in Tamil Naidu & Karnataka Forum for Dignity(KFD) in Karnataka. The PFI describes themselves as a neo-social movement committed to empowering people to ensure justice, freedom & security. National Women’s Front(NWF) is also one of the wings of PFI. According to different agencies, PFI had a role in the 2011 Mumbai bombings, 2012 Pune Blasts & 2013 Hyderabad Dilsukhnagar attack. However, PFI claims to work in cooperation with the National Confederation of Human Rights Organization to curb human rights violations in the nation. The front has a political arm, Social Democratic Party of India(SDPI), which was registered with the Election Commission of India on April 13, 2010. In 2012, KM Shareef, general secretary of PFI stated that in all states other than Assam the percentage of Muslims jailed far exceeds their population percentage in the respective states. They are repeatedly denied bail in the name of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act(UAPA) provisions despite the investigating agencies concerned not being able to produce concrete evidence to justify their detention. Why PFI to be proscribed? The recent citizenship act ignites the country with a great hatred towards the government. This led to a disturbance in public order, peace & tranquility. The Uttar Pradesh government sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the ban of PFI. The UP government over the citizenship act puts a spotlight on a 13-year-old Kerala based organization. According to the government, PFI is responsible for inciting violence that claimed over 19 lives in the state. Twenty-five people were arrested, who shares the ties with this outfit organization. The state head of the organization, Wasim was also arrested for the charges of arson.