Kozhikode, Aug 6 (IANS) A prominent organisation of Sunni Muslims in Kerala has decided to hold a campaign through mosques against a controversial Class 7 social science textbook, which they say promotes atheism and communist ideology. The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama (All-Kerala Ulama Organisation) Wednesday announced the decision at a meeting of clerics organised by Sunni Mahallu Federation.

The Sunni Mahallu Federation has around 8,000 mahallus (local religious committees) registered under it.

The social science textbook was introduced this year by Kerala’s Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led government. Religious and political organisations allege that the book promotes atheism and communist ideology.

“We have decided to tell people about the textbook at mosques. The campaign could be launched from next week. The government should remove the portions in the book that are against religion,” K. Umar Faizy Mukkom, the working secretary of Sunni Mahallu Federation, told IANS.

Earlier, addressing the meeting of clerics, Umar Faizy said it is better to die than to live without religion.

Faizy told IANS that he did not foresee any opposition from the community to raise the issue of textbook in mosques.

“Those who oppose this move are a small minority and they will not dare to raise the issue,” he said.