Muslim cemetery in Mumbai refuses to bury gunmen

MUMBAI, India — A Muslim graveyard has refused to bury nine gunmen who terrorized Mumbai over three days last week, leaving at least 172 people dead and wreaking havoc at some of its most famous landmarks.

The men are not true followers of the Islamic faith, according to the influential Muslim Jama Masjid Trust, which runs the 7.5-acre Badakabrastan graveyard in downtown Mumbai.

“People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslim,” said Hanif Nalkhande, a trustee. “Islam does not permit this sort of barbaric crime.”

Ten gunmen laid siege to India’s financial capital starting Wednesday night, attacking 10 targets and digging in at three: a Jewish center and two luxury hotels. Indian commandoes eventually stormed those buildings. In all, one gunman was captured and the rest were killed.

The bodies of the nine gunmen now lie in a morgue awaiting last rites, while the lone surviving militant is in police custody.

That is good. There are good people everywhere, but the question remains whether or not Islam in itself is a religion that does encourage violence, regardless of what all followers believe. It’s not the people I am talking about, but the ideology turning good people into suicide bombers.