Saturday, January 25, 2014

We Demand Apology from Mumbai Mirror

Dear editor,
It is with shock, dejection and almost a sense of shame at the trite standards that your journalistic practices have fallen to these days that I write to you this evening.

I was highly impressed by your advertising campaign - I Am Mumbai - last year which seemed to project your newspaper as a truthful, honest, real representative of the people of Mumbai. To a large extent, I believed it too with flashes of doubt depending on the quality and nature of articles you published over the past one year.
However, the sensationalist, ill-informed, poorly researched, largely opinionated, allegation-hurling and fact-starved article headlined "A Perilous Transition" on the front page (with extensions on page 6) of your tabloid today has forced me to not just review my positive opinions about your editorial standards but actually discard them altogether.

In the garb of presenting a fair observation, it is quite clear through the language and content of the article that it was not just influenced by a group of people discussed in the article, i.e., a small number of personally frustrated people who consider Khuzaima Qutbuddin to be the successor of the Late His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, but written with deliberate bias and almost a hint of vendetta against the Dawoodi Bohra community and its new spiritual leader.

As a newspaper that is read widely and held in high regard, I was appalled that your editorial team would even allow such a poorly written article to be published in the first place. Considering you'll have high standards in place, the publishing of this article, therefore, clearly reflects that this was a considered attempt at being sensationalist, drawing unnecessary attention to a non-issue and maligning the hard-earned and globally respected reputation of the Dawoodi Bohra community and its new spiritual head, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.

It's also in poor taste from a humanitarian point of view because it has been published at a time when the Dawoodi Bohra community over the globe is in mourning and still trying to recover from the unexpected loss of the beloved Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin.
Instead of offering sympathies and condolences to the community or paying a much-deserved tribute to the impeccable and prolific achievements about the late Syedna who was a beacon of peace and progress in India and a globally consulted stalwart for wisdom and developing human potential, your newspaper chose to talk about an issue that is hardly a subject for discussion in any Dawoodi Bohra household. Even more so, it chose to adopt an intellectually bereft stance and demonstrate journalistic lewdness in doing so.

I'd like to argue my case on a few facts -
1) Your article does not shed any light on the actual investiture process (nass) from one Dai-el-Mutlaq (Vicegerent to the Imam) to the next and makes its own assumptions about what happened 49 years ago or 3 years ago without any evidence or facts.
In the first place, how can any ambiguity about the new Syedna arise because Khuzaima Qutbuddin has never presented any evidence regarding the investiture he claims was made to him 49 years ago. Moreover, as a regular, practising Dawoodi Bohra who has had the privilege to attend many sermons of the late Syedna, never in the past 49 years did the Syedna ever refer to Khuzaima as his successor. Nor does he have any witnesses to his investiture whereas there are witnesses to Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin's proclamation in London and Mumbai.
Any doubts about this historic event can only imply that the doubters believe that the alive and conscious Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin was not in charge after his stroke and leadership issues were being handled without his consent. Is that what Khuzaima's associates are suggesting? If so, then their own faith in the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin can be called into question and, more importantly, their trust in their own senses and intellect can be questioned because there have been countless instances in the past 3 years where the late Syedna has appeared publicly with Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as his successor.
Moreover, even after Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin fell ill in London 3 years ago and appointed Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as his successor, never did Khuzaima Qutbuddin ever stake a claim or mention to the late Syedna that he was being denied or being wronged. After all, as part of his faith, he would believe that the Syedna would do justice and listen to his plea if he merited a hearing.

2) Without any evidence, it portrays the benevolent and benign Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as a "radical hardliner". On what basis?
I'm sorry to say this but the article's author suffers from the most basic of flaws when making an objective argument - selective perception. How can such an article be published?
For instance, how can a dignified, respected leader holding a legal, constitutionally recognised office be morally assaulted without any proof? How can a leader under whose administrative guidance - for the first time in human history - women were institutionally freed from the domestic chores of cooking as a result of the "community kitchen" be portrayed as someone who advocates limited educational access to women?
How can a leader who personally supervised de-addiction and rehabilitation programmes be labelled as having a divergent school of thought in Islam?

Moreover, he personally beseeched and facilitated Dawoodi Bohras in Yemen to avoid growing 'khat' (a flowering plant that is classified by the WHO as a drug of abuse and has damaging physiological and psychological effects) and take up organic fruit and vegetable farming practices instead for the benefit of society at large. How can he not be a moderate, progressive liberal with a humanistic aspect of Islam at the heart of his teachings? 

How can a leader who personally preaches women's rights within a family and propagates non-violence and fair treatment of women at home have hardline views on gender?
The issue here is not just of journalistic callousness but of a planned systematic attempt at publicly demeaning the Dawoodi Bohra community and its new spiritual leader. The issue here is grave as your article is based on blatant lies and claimed representations of opinions such as "He is seen as a right-wing radical ...", "Dawoodi Bohras faced with having to select from two individuals..."
In the first place, a Dawoodi Bohra, by definition of his faith, would unconditionally accept whoever has been handpicked by the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin as his next leader. And those who doubt his decision, are by definition, not Dawoodi Bohra and, hence, have no moral or legal right to comment on this decision.
And in the past three years or even now, never has a Dawoodi Bohra been faced with a choice as the late Syedna never suggested that there was a choice to be made. Hence, this article lies. Spiritual leadership is a highly responsible and serious task and is not some trivial game show where there is a draw of lots or choices to be made without fundamental and complete knowledge.

A big lie in the article is that the late Syedna was unable to utter a word in front of a large assembled gathering in Mumbai after he appointed Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. I was personally a witness to that ceremony (over a live telecast) and can clearly remember the late Syedna pronouncing his successor's name.
Another glaring lie in the article is that "Mufaddal Saifuddin claimed...". Never can a Dai-el-Mutlaq claim his succession. He can only accept the investiture made in him by his predecessor in front of witnesses. Mufaddal Saifuddin was publicly appointed by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. Whereas the reality is that it is Khuzaima who is staking a "claim" and has no witnesses.

In fact, here are a few facts that haven't been mentioned in the article -
1) Against people's wishes and without their consent, members of the Dawoodi Bohra community are being sent text messages and emails and being coerced to give up their faith and acknowledge Khuzaima Qutbuddin as their leader. A key pillar of a Dawoodi Bohri's faith is her/his allegiance to and unconditional belief in the Syedna. Since Khuzaima was never officially anointed or appointed by the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, choosing Khuzaima as her/his leader would mean giving up a lifetime of faith in the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin himself and adopting an un-Islamic belief system.

2) Khuzaima Qutbuddin's family members are forcing people (especially young children) to renounce Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as their leader and sending MMS videos of such forced renunciation to people (again, without consent).

3) Khuzaima Qutbuddin's history has rarely been saintly. He has been linked with various traits and activities that do not befit a spiritual leader and certainly not one who can uphold the faith of a million-strong community.

Therefore, I sincerely request and, in fact, demand an unconditional apology from Mumbai Mirror for publishing an article that lacks objectivity, malevolently maligns the reputations of a highly respected global leader and the entire Dawodi Bohra community at large and, by virtue of indulging in such a tawdry and unprincipled standard of journalism, has brought the highly reliable Indian press into disrepute.

60 comments:

  1. Dear Brothers & sisters,

    Mumbai Mirror should realise its mistake of publishing false news and defaming the name of dawoodi bohra community.
    Humble appeal to Mumbai Mirror print media to kindly publish appology and say the real truth, as it has hurt millions of belivers, otherwise we will boycott the paper and take necessary legal action to it.

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    1. While facts could have been substantiated with proof, no dawoodi bohra would prefer the entire community to regress back to 100 years or more because one person. Further a true successor is one who carries forward tradition of late syedna not someone who brings down the core values of the community. So being a secular nation (India) and the paper voicing opinion is nothing new. Nothing to fret about.

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    2. i would request mumbai mirror to keep their blasphemous OPINIONS with them,
      Becouse of their wrong opinions ,1 million dawoodi bohras across the world has an opinion that mumbai mirror is a misguiding newspaper with false news,
      and i have already unsuscribed and thrown away this piece of shit and i am sure thousands will follow.

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  2. We should take stern action against this newspaper for publishing all shit without any proof or base. We should go legal against them

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  4. There are videos where Khuzaima's son Abdeali, not only accepts Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the successor but also tells the crowd how Syedna Mufaddal is blessed and trained by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin saheb. He also prays for long life of both the Syednas. Now my simple question to Khuzaima's handful of followers, why is Abdeali dancing now for his father? Pls think. Mumbai Mirror, kindly see this video and decide whether you owe an apology to the dawoodi bohra community or not? #Shame

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  5. It is extremely painful that a newspaper belonging to Times Group could indulge in such irresponsible journalism, the article is completely bereft of facts. We demand an unconditional apology from Mumbai Mirror on the first page of its Sunday edition.

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  6. Mumbai Mirror u have made a issue of something which u had no prove because have not taken the pain to know the true ......this is not real journalism and so me want apology

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  7. We demand an apology for the baseless publish that you made. We are the witness of nass.The whole world has witnessed it through relay.How irresponsible and shameful of you for publishing such a shit article without any proof. Its is a demand for apology for hurting sentiments of mumineens.we are already in pain of demise of our 52th dai il mutlaq,Don't make it more worse for us.

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  8. Your arrival in Mumbai mirror is best example of worst genralism.we demand unconditional apology for the artical

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  9. Shameful and irresponsible journalism..you people only print gossip...and baseless articles.

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  10. My personal belief is time again and again, Times of India Group has been largely involved in spreading bad feelings about Dawoodi Bohra Community through its publications. WE NEED AN APOLOGY AND ALSO A PROMISE THAT NO SUCH THING WOULD EVER BE PUBLISHED

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  11. You guys at the media should highlight what is correct and what is not. And this being of an community you people should verify it with our representatives before u post something that highlights our community in a bad light. We demand an unconditional apology from your editor.

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  12. Freedom of speech is not to hurt feelings of millions. We are very peacefull community and the evidence is that we are not doing any malo drama dharna just asking a sincere apology. Our community always played a huge role in country's success and it can make others jealous but neigher truth can be denied nor hide..

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  13. Freedom of speech is not to hurt feelings of millions. We are very peacefull community and the evidence is that we are not doing any malo drama dharna just asking a sincere apology. Our community always played a huge role in country's success and it can make others jealous but neigher truth can be denied nor hide..

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  14. Before writing ill about somebody.. why cant you journalist find out the truth.. Due to the lack of responsibilty from your department, our community name is at stake.. Please for God's stake stop publishing fake news just for money.. Shame on You people.

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  15. This is very wrong what you did ... Did not expect this from mumbai mirrior. Shame upon your journalism. We want apology..

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  16. Dear Editor,
    You have failed in eyes of millions of Dawoodi Bohra across the world. You seem like a totally bribed paper when you give such a biased account of details. Did you bother go ask a true Dawoodi Bohra what they think?
    Well, in that case let me tell you that Moula Mufaddal Saifuddin was given the crown of Nass by our late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin many a times in history and an official Nass by live relay to around the world all Bohras, C'mon now what you have to deny? If you would have bothered to reasearch you would find many instances when Burhanuddin Moula did Nass on him. However, we never heard of Khuzaima. Even if it was a secret affair on him where was he all this while when late Moula was alive? Why didn't he come then? Hence the theif is outright seen. And we know of many such facts but let it be. If u were truly interested I would have bothered, but you seem not.
    As of me, you have lost respect as a paper. Your such articles are more a proof of wanting to create rift in community solely to gather gossip rather than any other motive.
    We have never been into forceful agreement of religion because it makes no sense. Instead , people with tons of money to bribe will do such acts.
    So next time get you facts right because well you have 2.5 million viewers less now.
    Huh!

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  17. Without any proof an knowdlege about us .. How dare you to published such nwisance... Apology or else we will take damn action..

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  18. It is a worst act done by editors of MM, your apology is highly obliged on front page.....

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  19. Shameful and irresponsible journalism..you people only print gossip...and baseless articles.

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  20. We our community people need apology from Mumbai mirror ... Or else our community is very strong to take any actions against ur'll.

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  21. Frm MUMBAI MIRROR it should be changed to MUMBAI TERROR
    they dont have JOURNALIST
    THEY HAVE TERRORIST HOW DARE U PUBLISH SUCH A NONSENSE ARTICLE
    APOLOGIZE EITHER PROOF UR ARTICLE

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  22. Dame to mumbai mirror. can do anything for money, if not then proove.it seems u print only bluffs n your paper noworth reading

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  23. Shame shame n such a shame is today's media , there lots other problems tht a media should focus on then writing nonsense without proof just to sell ther news...take courage n write wt is really right n then call ur self a media.....

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  24. what a poor journalism , a paper from Times group can do such a thing
    our community never indulge nor we need any media attention
    please print a apology statement
    as fast as you can or we need to take action against you

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  25. How much u receive from there? Thats a reality for you only

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  26. Only one word comes to my Mind for dis kind of baseless journalism... DISGRACE... We just dnt need an apology but we lso warn you dat dis kind rubbish n fruitless articles will not be tolerated... Spare our community leader n his followers ur baseless allegations.. We are not intrsted in wat dat malun n his followers are claimg... For we Dawoodi Bohras der is only one leader n mansoos(sucessor) of aqa moula n hes syedna mufaddal saifeddin...

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  27. its very shameful act done by the MIrror....they would have to apologize for their mistake....or else some legal act should be taken against them.....for publishing such a rubbish article without any proof.

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  28. This really takes MM to the lowest level of journalism, Its just trying to spread false accusation without proper investigation.
    More over they are trying force opinion of the handful on the whole community.They are trying to give visibility to an non issue and hurting people of the community, this is not freedom of speech by any ways.
    Khuzaima qutbuddin has history of creating problems with an questionable charecter.
    Khuzema is trying to drag reputation of the whole community which was created by syedna mohammed burhannuddin saheb RA with tireless efforts throughtout his life.
    It really shows how low is khuzema qutbuddin's charecter considering the timing of accusation as currently the whole community is mourning (reported across media) and khuzema is running after money and power.
    I am not suprised to say that this definitely a paid article.

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  29. It ws truly appalling to see such a reputed newspaper indulging in an act which ws a sheer example of irresponsible journalism.The anonymity of the writer/s of the article proved how biased and counterfeit ws all the info that he hd gathered or interpreted or ws told to do so under some malignant source or influence to tarnish the image of the community and its revered and cherished leader,syedna mufaddal saifuddin who is the sole and apparent successor of the late syedna whom he had proclaimed in an investiture witnessed by thousands of bohris across the globe and does nt require any validation.therefore there is no dilemma in the mind of a true bohri who was already aware of the same and accepted him as the 53rd Dai.On the contrary, confusion lies in the minds of those who do nt hv substantial proof to verify their own statemnts.henceforth,please do not publish such insinuating articles and hurt the sentiments of our community

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  30. Really
    The times of India group newspaper writing all this without any proof or authentication is a pity
    We demand an unconditional apology

    Mumbai mirror should refrain from publishing such stories in future without proper investigation

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  31. Once again Mumbai mirror has succeeded in hurting the feelings of lakhs of dawoodi bohras across the world by the irresponsibility shown by its journalist. Time and again it has proved that it is a mere commercialized news paper. Its an anti journalistic act to not get the basics right before publishing your story and therefore we demand an apology and also a promise to not repeat such purposeful mistakes.

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  32. For the publicity and to encash monetary gains you people can to any height, you don't have any feelings towards any religion or any human, it's the prime duty of your profession to potray truth and spread good positivity in the society. Instead you are spreading rumors and baseless stories, so please stop hurting feelings of our peaceful community.

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  33. Yes absolutely demand an apology...MM ...if your newspaper runs for money..u should have consulted us..would have thrown plus money...ur paper has hurted millions of true followers of mufaddal saifuddin saheb TUS..and the entire bohra community... Its a pity to say that u have lost ur huge readers

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  34. Apology is must by the ill-sourced media.
    Suppose tomorrow I claimed to be the Prime Minister of India.
    So will you (media fools) not verify this claim before publishing it on your paper or just print it blindly with out any proper evidence.
    So how can you all be so irresponsible before publishing such a false news in your paper.
    Just think are you doing justice with your profession or just for the sake of earning,you are publishing false claims and creating tensions situation.
    You as a media are the global eyes of reader and if you are blind than you are going to make the entire world blind.
    Remember Mahatma Gandhi's Word, "An eye for an eye will make the world blind."

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  35. nowadays newspaper are publishing anything for monetary gain without any evidence or information. They do publish anything without caring anyone's reputation and feelings. Mumbai mirror you had done very wrong. dawoodi bohra community is not going to buy your newspaper nor watching your news channel. you have hurted our sentiments. Apology is must You have hurted us before also but this time again doing same thing shows you don't care

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  36. nowadays newspaper are publishing anything for monetary gain without any evidence or information. They do publish anything without caring anyone's reputation and feelings. Mumbai mirror you had done very wrong. dawoodi bohra community is not going to buy your newspaper nor watching your news channel. you have hurted our sentiments. Apology is must You have hurted us before also but this time again doing same thing shows you don't care

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  37. Brothers and sisters.... Need to really fight back..how dare does any tom dick n harry ..pinpoint fingers towards our moula tus and community.. And Start writing any shit scrap..need an apology ....In short..MM...don't u underestimate us...

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  38. We need an apology frm u. Bfre printing the news go and see the thruth dnt print any bull shit syenda mufaddal saifuddin TUS zindabad

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  39. If MM news reporters doesn't have the ability to give the true news to public and also the editor is sleeping without checking on the facts and publishing. I think this newspaper should be immediately garbaged in the bin. And we all will make sure the we spread these words via social networking. Better apologise. And never try pin pointing on any religion or you get it back.

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  40. Shame shame n such a shame is today's media , there lots other problems tht a media should focus on then writing nonsense without proof just to sell ther news...take courage n write wt is really right n then call ur self a media.....

    I m also publishing news paper but im not understand y arr you publish wrong article without any proof

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  41. We demand an apology from MM thats gor sure for hurting our sentiment. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin t.u.s ZINDABAAD.

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  42. we demand apology from MM. and should respect to our aqa moula sydena mufadalsaifuddin. mm u dont have any proof then how you dare to publise these article

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  43. Sharam Karo Sharam Karo.... Paise Ke Liye Mat MARO.... Boycott Mumbai Mirror and The Times Of India. Shame On You!!!!!

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  44. No auther iz right to hurt a n e body sentinements on caste so think first tht your authr iz to apology from our his holliness Syedna Muffadal Saifuddint.u.s or suffer it

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  45. Please stop printing all non sense without proof coz now people are educated n know how to takr legal action abt hurting millions of sentiments of people....syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin T.U.S zindabad

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  46. syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin zindabad
    khuzema per khuda ni lanat

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  47. Newspapers have a great responsibility to print truth and motivate people to be honest towards their nation and humanity... And they hv no right to talk abt n e body's religion n faith....they better mind their own business n religion

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  49. Poor journalism...u people print any thing for doing business. Shame on u

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  50. If MM news reporters doesn't have the ability to give the true news to public and also the editor is sleeping without checking on the facts and publishing. I think this newspaper should be immediately garbaged in the bin. And we all will make sure the we spread these words via social networking. Better apologise. And never try pin pointing on any religion or you get it back.

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  51. We Dawoodi Bohra needs apology from the Times of India Groups. You have been Hurting the sentiments and feelings of us from so long. Its an anti journalistic act to not get the basics right before publishing your story and therefore we demand an apology and also a promise to not repeat such purposeful mistakes.

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  52. MM is typically reminiscent of any kind of racially biased & misinformed media outlet in india. It reflects opinions and views which are incorrect and insulting and derogatory to our community. We demand unconditional apology immediately.

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  53. Its a road side newspaper with no professional reporters.
    You are lucky that we are peace loving community else your printing press & house would have been set to fire for publishing such a rubbish article which is far from reach of truth.

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  54. EDITOR
    its very sad for all of us, u should immediately apologize for ill facts news immediately,

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  55. Mumbai mirror is a false newspaper printing baseless articles without any proof, they should apologise to our moula syedna mufaddal saifuddin (t.u.s) and 1 million strong dawoodi bohra for their insensitive and false articles pertaining to nass on khozema qutbuddin.

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  56. I have seen late His Holiness Dr Sayedna Burhanudeen Saheb many a times in mumbai specially when his car passes by my house.I cant forget his smiles, his gestures and his affection towards every individual be it a member of his own community or not. I have always seen his son syadna mufadal saifudeen saheb sitting besides his father. I have nerver ever seen them separately and from the very beginning I used to believe that his son was the next saydna too. It is evident that sayedna mufadal saifuddin was always with his father, worked with him last minute to serve him and his community.

    On such a sensitive issue of successorship mumbai mirror should have done the right investigation rather than simply expressing their opinion that are fully opposed by majority. Im not a member of dawoodi bohra community but at the end of the day a reader of mumbai mirror and I feel doubtful about any facrs they might put up without thorough investigation.

    ee do have freedom of speech but it should not be misused to mis lead the reader.

    Shri khozema qutbuddin - I have seen him for the first time on television and in newspaper and has never read about him or his asdociation with late sayedna. It is hard for me to believe that he is the successor. However this is for their community and other spiritual membersvto decide on what is right or wrong BUT as a reader of mumbai mirror and whst I have read I feel I have been misled by mumbai mirror and if thry do not take justify their actions of misleading the readers one should stop reading it . Thanks

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