Thread by @dibakardutta_

One of the least known aspects of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack of 2008 was the religious profiling of victims & selective targeting of non-Muslims by Pakistani terrorists.

This reflects in the dossier sent by the then-UPA government to its Pakistani counterpart.

Thread (1/n):

Here are the details of conversation between an LeT terrorist and his Pakistani handler:

Source:
independent.co.uk/news/world/asi…

(2/n)

Check how the lives of two hostages were spared by virtue of their Faith (3/n)

"Brother, you have to fight for the victory of Islam", a Pakistani handler told the LeT terrorist. (4/n)

A documentary on the events of 26/11 gives a chilling account of the religious profiling conducted by the terrorists. #MumbaiAttack

Source:

(5/n)

At the Oberoi Trident Hotel, a group of 15 people were taken to the top of a service staircase. Among the hostages were a Muslim Turkish couple.

The Turkish man named Saifi recounted how his wife Melton’s declaration of Faith spared his life. (6/n)

When they were being led to the staircase and a LeT terrorist named Fahadullah raised his gun to shoot them, Melton screamed, “Stop, stop. He is from Istanbul in Turkey. He is a Muslim.”
(7/n)

10 people were gunned down by Fahadullah but the life of Saifi, his wife Melvin & three other women was initially spared.

Later, Saifi recounted, “They took us out of the room and made us lean against the wall."
(8/n)

Saifi added, "They were talking on the phone and asked us to move away from the wall.”

Melton narrated how the three female hostages were gunned down in front of their eyes. While still in a state of shock, Saifi and Melton began reading the Quranic verses for the dead.

(9/n)

According to Saifi, this act shocked the terrorists.

At that point, Fahadullah directed the Turkish couple to enter a nearby room. However, they insisted on being shot at the staircase, like the other hostages. However, the LeT terrorist disagreed.

(10/n)

He announced, “No Kill. You are (Muslim) brothers.”

Thus, the allegiance to Islam and the open display of Faith proved crucial for the Turkish couple to save their lives during the #MumbaiTerrorAttack.

(11/n)

A total of 166 people were killed died in the Mumbai terror attack of 2008. This included individuals of all major Faiths.

So, how does this fact remain consistent with the story of selectivity and religious profiling? (12/n)

Since bullets don't discriminate between religions, people of all Faith died when LeT terrorists fired at random such as in CST.

But, when the matter was about one-on-one execution, the religion of the victim mattered. And only non-Muslims were taken out.

Context matters! 13/n

Read my detailed story about this issue here:
opindia.com/2021/11/26-11-…

(14/n)

#Bonus: This was not the first time when terrorists asked hostages to recite Quranic verses and spared those who succeeded in doing it.

This was also observed during the 2016 Dhaka terror attack!

Source: bbc.com/news/magazine-…

(n/n)

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Regards.