New Delhi - An Islamic group, whose legislators attacked Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, has threatened to behead her if she returns to the city, news reports said. Nasreen, who fled from Bangladesh in 1994 after hardline Muslim clergymen said her writings were blasphemous and demanded her execution, has been living in exile in India for the past few years after spending several years in Europe.
The 45-year-old author was attacked by a group of youths led by three legislators of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party while she was speaking at the Hyderabad Press Club to mark the release of her latest novel on Thursday.
The group hurled bags, flower pots and books at the novelist, who escaped shocked but unhurt.
"Muslims are proud of what our legislators and workers have done because we can never tolerate any insult to Prophet Mohammed," MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was quoted as saying by IANS news agency.
"If she comes to the city again, we will kill her," Owaisi, one of the legislators who led the attack, told reporters.
Other Muslim leaders and intellectuals, however, condemned the attack on Nasreen terming it "shameful" and "barbaric."
"The incident was outrageous and shameful. In a civilised society, you have a right to approve or disapprove of anything," lyricist and author Javed Akhtar was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
"Fundamentalists - Hindu and Muslim - are getting bolder and bolder as they can get away with almost anything. That is the problem," Akhtar said.
Delhi Minorities Commission Chairperson Kamal Farooqui said the incident should be condemned, specially as three lawmakers were involved.
But the Indian government should also ensure that Nasreen is not allowed to do or write anything which hurts the sentiments of Muslims, he said.
This is not the first time Nasreen has been threatened in India. In March 2007, the All India Ibtehad Council, a Muslim group based in northern Uttar Pradesh state, offered a 500,000-rupee-bounty (11,319 dollars) for beheading her.
The Bangladesh author lives in Kolkata, capital of eastern West Bengal state. The West Bengal government is considering upgrading Nasreen's security after the latest incident, PTI reported. The Indian government recently extended her permission to stay in India by six months.
"I think she is safe in this city. However, I hope she refrains from making explosive comments," Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee said. Nasreen writes in the Bengali language, which is spoken in Bangladesh and in India's West Bengal.
Nasreen, whose requests for citizenship have been repeatedly turned down by India, said she was shocked by Thursday's incident.
"For half-an-hour death stared at me up close as I locked myself in a room and those men tried to break in and kill me," she was quoted as saying by IANS news agency. "I was attacked earlier too, but it was never like yesterday."
