1 May 2024: After facing legal notice and widespread protests in Kashmir, Meerut-based publisher Acuber Books International has issued a public apology for a controversial portrayal of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The outcry stemmed from a general knowledge book titled ‘That’s Right- 6’, aimed at sixth graders, wherein Ayatollah Khomeini was listed among the ‘most evil people of the world’, alongside figures like Kim Il-sung of North Korea and Hirohito of Japan. The publisher, a division of Q-Connect Books, attributed this listing to an ‘oversight’.
The offending passage in the book described Ayatollah Khomeini as someone who ‘used to kill people who didn’t believe in Allah’ and was responsible for the deaths of millions during the Iranian revolution and the Iran-Iraq war.
Responding to the controversy, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department clarified that the book in question was not prescribed or developed by the board.
Acuber Books International’s director issued a letter of apology, expressing regret for the offensive depiction and acknowledging the need for accuracy and sensitivity in educational materials. The letter emphasized that it was never their intention to spread misinformation or propagate harmful narratives.
The apology letter stated, “We write to you with utmost sincerity and regret regarding the recent controversy surrounding our publication’s portrayal of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It has come to our attention that labeling him among the ‘most evil men in history’ is not only inaccurate but also deeply offensive to many individuals and communities.”
Prominent members of the Muslim community, particularly Shia Muslims in Kashmir, expressed outrage over the depiction of Ayatollah Khomeini. Organizations such as Anjuman-e-Sharie Shiayan condemned the portrayal, asserting Ayatollah Khomeini’s status as a respected and impactful Muslim leader.
Calls for legal action against the publisher intensified, with demands for the cancellation of their license. Shia cleric Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari and Ladakh-based activist Sajjad Kargili were among those demanding swift government intervention to remove the offensive material from circulation.
Various individuals and organizations, including former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu and the All Jammu & Kashmir Shia Association, called for legal repercussions against the publisher, emphasizing the need to counter harmful stereotypes and uphold historical accuracy in educational materials.
Legal experts, such as Advocate Mudassir Ahmad from the J&K High Court, suggested that the publishers could potentially face penal provisions for their actions.
The controversy underscores the importance of vigilance in educational material production and the need to ensure sensitivity and accuracy in representations of historical figures.
