J&K Grand Mufti tells US tourists to leave, warns of violence

Srinagar: The Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Bashiruddin Ahmad has asked all US citizens in the Valley to “immediately leave” the state in wake of the controversial video which has hurt the sentiment of Muslim community.

“The US citizens visiting Kashmir should leave immediately as the sentiments of the Muslims have been hurt by these pictures,” Ahmad said.

The Grand Mufti said the blasphemous content on internet about the Prophet is highly condemnable.

“Everyone accepts the greatness of the Prophet and any attempt to malign his image will not be tolerated,” he said.

Ahmad said Muslims across the world should raise their voice against these attempts and hold protests.

The religious leader has clarified that he was advising the tourists to leave for their own safety.

The government doesn’t have control over people when they are agitated,tourists who are here must be protected, he was quoted as saying by ANI.

There have been protests in multiple countries over the film which allegedly shows the Prophet Mohammed in a poor light. The Indian government has already reportedly sought for the film to be blocked for viewing in India following a complaint from the Jammu and Kashmir state government.

The move to block the film online comes after the government blocked the availability of clips and sites online following them being used to spread rumours, that led to thousands of people from north eastern states fleeing to their homes fearing violence.

with inputs from PTI