Imam Yacob’s last words pleading for understanding and patience
"Wish that all sides create understanding, sincerity and have patience to solve the problem. Then the problem can be resolved…"
The above statement was made by Yacob Raimanee, the imam of Pattani provincial mosque, during an interview with the Isranews agency on August 5 – a few hours before he was gunned down in front of hundreds of shocked shoppers in a market in Pattani township by gunmen believed to be extremists.
On that fateful day, reporters from Isranews agency paid a visit to Imam Yacob to ask him about preparations for the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan on August 8.
The respectable imam who preached peace and non-violence in defiance of the extremists survived an attempt on his life on October 11, 2010 when gunmen believed to be extremists opened fire into his house. He narrowly escaped death when one of the bullets hit his cap.
In his last interview, Imam Yacob talked about the demands recently made by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group in exchange for a scaledown of violence by the separatists. He said that the demand for Muslims serving as defence volunteers to be allowed to pray while at work during the Ramadan was unnecessary because they were already free to do so without any restrictions.
The imam also voiced his objection against the BRN’s demand that sale of liquor be banned in the deep South throughout the fasting month, reasoning that there are other people in the region who have different religious faiths and cultures besides Muslims who are the majority.
"We must understand the identities of religions. We have our religion (Islam) and they (non-Muslims) have their own religions. But we can co-exist together," said Imam Yacob.
Before the start of the Ramadan early July, Imam Yacob told the Muslims about the real meaning of Ramadan. He said the fasting month was the period of forgiving and no-violence. Earlier, he said that killings against Muslims or non-Muslims were against Islam.
Yacob’s murder allegedly by the extremists has shocked and brought sorrow to many Muslims in Pattani and elsewhere.
"I did not expect anybody would be so daring to commit such outrageous incident right in the market. It was so horrible. Nobody then knew who shot the imam," said Mrs Romoh Muelor, a food vendor at the market.
A cleaner at the Pattani provincial mosque, Mr Nan, said he was shocked by the incident. Praising the imam as a kind-hearted man, he said the imam gave him 500 baht a month for cleaning the mosque. Although the amount is small, he said he was proud to do the job there.
Forensic examination showed that the gun used to shoot Yacob was the same one which had been used in six violent incidents. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of some of the suspected gunmen.
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Caption : Yacob Raimanee