Karipur: A recent protest organized by Solidarity, the political wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, under the banner of opposing the Wakf Board amendment, has sparked controversy for prominently displaying images of individuals associated with extremist ideologies. The protest march and road blockade near Karipur Airport in Malappuram featured banners with photographs of controversial Islamist figures, raising serious concerns about the nature and intent of the demonstration.
Among those displayed were Imam Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood—an organization banned in several countries for its extremist activities—and Sayyid Qutb, a key ideological figure whose writings have been widely cited as the intellectual foundation of modern Islamist terrorism. Al-Banna’s works are known for promoting radical interpretations of Islamic theology and were pivotal in shaping the ideological framework of several extremist movements. He was later assassinated in Egypt.
Sayyid Qutb’s ideologies, which emerged from his radical interpretations of Islamic scripture, have inspired numerous militant organizations across the globe. He was executed in Egypt for his involvement in a plot to assassinate then-President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Qutb’s younger brother, Muhammad Qutb, later mentored Osama bin Laden. Today, Qutbism remains a significant influence on extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, and Abu Sayyaf.
The protest, which was publicly positioned as a demonstration against the proposed changes to the Wakf Act, appeared to include implicit glorification of individuals widely regarded as ideological progenitors of global terrorism.
Placards bearing images of Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas, and Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader, were also seen during the protest—further intensifying concerns about the messaging and affiliations reflected in the event.
