Syeda Amtul Saudi Gazette JEDDAH/RIYADH — The release of Indian Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi, who faced charges of inciting hatred, sedition and waging war against the nation among others, was an occasion of immense jubilation for the Hyderabadi community in Jeddah and Riyadh. Owaisi has been granted bail by two separate courts in Nirmal and Nizamabad on Friday after 38 days. He was arrested on Jan. 8 at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. As rapturous celebrations kicked off in India, the Hyderabadi community was no less joyous here. Hundreds of Owaisi supporters gathered at the Jeddah Corniche, Bab Makkah and Aziziya districts of Jeddah and Riyadh's Hara area to congratulate and celebrate with each other. MIM supporters Muzafar Ali Baber, Rafeeq Ahmed and Mohammed Rafeeq distributed hundreds of kilos of sweets among the people. Many youngsters danced to celebrate the release of their beloved leader. Describing Akbar as a youth icon, the delighted youngsters put up posters of Owaisi at Hyderabadi restaurants, shops, and cars. They also took to the streets and wildly chanted “Akbar Bhai zindabad” and “MIM zindabad”, bringing traffic to a halt. Members of Bazm-e-Ittehad organization Jeddah, especially youth led by the organization's media secretary Syed Khaja Viqaruddin, dressed up in “Akbaruddin Fans” printed t–shirts. Viqaruddin said: “Our hearts are full of joy and happiness today (Saturday). I was disturbed, our youth was disturbed but now we hope that Owaisi's brother will come back to work for the nation once again.” President of Bazm-e-Ittehad, Ahmeduddin Owaisi, said: “(Owaisi's brother) Asad showed his full trust and faith in the Indian judicial system when his brother was arrested. “Some people from the opposition wanted to keep him in jail for a long period but the court accepted his bail and it proves that the Indian judicial system sees him as an innocent.” A diehard fan of Owaisi, Khunaizan wished Akbar luck and said the prayers of all the people were with him. Patron of Bazm-e-Ittehad Dr. Syed Ali Mahmoud said: “Muslims are always thankful to Allah in every circumstance; we connected with Allah when he got arrested and prayed for him and we are very thankful to the Almighty on his release. It's a political war and some people want to turn it into religious war. It's nothing but the success of truth.” General secretary Yousufuddin Amjad, vice president Hasan Ba Yazid and advisor Mazhar Ali Baig of Bazm-e-Ittehad also expressed their happiness. Prominent member of the Indian community and president of Khake Taiba, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, said: “This is the victory of truth and it was not a ‘hate speech' but the ‘Huqq (true) speech of Owaisi.' Khan also said that he is not against any caste or community but against all people who are dividing the communities.
