Probe sought into suspected unnatural deaths of people who quit Nakshbandi Thareeqath

A group of individuals and families who got themselves dissociated from the Naqshbandi Thareeqath, a Sufi order based in Kozhikode district’s Koduvally and locally identified as ‘Korul Thareeqath,’ have sought a police investigation into the circumstances that led to the unnatural death of some of its old members.

They allege that the suspected human rights violations and social ostracism by a few Thareeqath preachers and practitioners for allegedly breaking their tenets have been found abetting many “untoward incidents” which could be brought to light through a comprehensive investigation.

“The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has already registered a case and sought a report from the Kerala Police about the incident. We hope that the rights panel will swing into action immediately after getting the field-level investigation report,” said Riyas Azeez, one of the complainants, who quit the Thareeqath following differences of opinion. He said a recent incident in which an expatriate from Wayanad district attempted suicide should be an eye opener to dig deep and find out the truth.

Mr. Azeez who had already filed a petition with the Malappuram police explaining the harrowing experiences faced by his family members and in-laws after quitting the orthodox religious order said there were even suspected incidents of destroying the letters recovered from persons who were found dead in suspicious circumstances. He said many of such suspected deaths were reported from Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts in the past.

A Kizhisseri native, who is now in the forefront of legal fight for the expelled members, said the police should investigate whether the Thareeqath members were involved in “threatening the old members” who left the group for various personal reasons. He revealed that many of the old members were under threat for opposing to abide by the rules of the self-proclaimed Tariqath leaders.

Mohammed Fazil, a religious leader from Malappuram district who helped the ostracised members to proceed with legal actions, said the general community was totally clueless about the human rights violations in the name of upholding Thareeqath rules. “Those who came out of the Thareeqath are not allowed to meet their family members. The family members who try to meet such persons will also have to face cruel punishments like excommunication and social boycott,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, a senior functionary of the Thareeqath said there was no point in discussing the allegations of people who quit the group unable to uphold its traditions. He said there were no such allegations from people who still continued with the Sufi order.

According to police sources, the investigation team had already collected the statements of many victims as part of the continuing probe. They also said a preliminary report would be available soon for the reference of the Human Rights Commission.