An extensive yearly Indian community Eid program was reduced to a simple get-together ceremony on Monday night in solidarity with the victims of Gaza.

Indian expatriates condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children.

Organizers cited the assertion made by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right Navi
Pillay, a South African of Indian Tamil origin, that there was a “strong possibility” of war crimes in the war-torn strip. Talk of the ongoing onslaught dominated the event, organized by the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association (AMUOBA) in Riyadh.

Community members also commended the Norwegian doctors working in Gaza, who have strongly condemned the use of cancer-inducing bombs by the Israeli army.

AMUOBA President Mohammad Ahmad Badshah introduced a poetry recitation session between two randomly divided groups, who read out couplets conceived of by eminent Urdu poets to depict the deplorable condition in Gaza. Reciters prayed for restoration in the holy land.

Participants also called on international agencies to come forward to work together toward restoring peace in Palestine. A Palestinian national also attended the session, while other participants also recited couplets depicting community problems, divisive politics in India and the common struggle for joining mainstream development.

Akhtar Ul-Islam Siddiqui, president of the Middle East NRIs Association, recited couplets created by prominent Indian poets Allama Iqbal and Kaleem Aajiz.

Mohammed Quaiser, president of Tanzeem Hum Hindustani, a voluntary organization of overseas Indians, echoed sentiments for Palestinians through poetry-readings.

Naseem Akhtar, vice president AMUOBA, propsed the vote of thanks.

AMUOBA treasurer Mohammad Mutayyab and executive member Viqar Ahmad, along with seniors Wasi Hyder Rizvi, Mohammad Sabir, Shamsuddin Shams, Suhail Ahmad and Kaunain Shahidi, coordinated the program, which also included prize-distribution to kids for extra-curricular activities.

 
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