'Don't know him': Karnataka student's father responds to Al-Qaeda chief's comments

Mandya: Muskan Khan's father on Wednesday rejected the comments of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahiri, who praised the college student for defending the hijab, calling them "wrong" and saying the family and he were doing well.

Observing that such incidents disturb the peace of families, he said the state and police can investigate the matter.

"We don't know anything about it (video), we don't know who he is. I saw him today for the first time. He has said something in Arabic.....We are all living here with love and trust like brothers," Mohammad Hussain Khan told media.

Queried on Zawahiri praising Muskan, he said, "People say whatever they want....this is unnecessarily causing trouble. We are living peacefully in our country, we don't want him to talk about us, as he is not related to us... it is wrong, it is an attempt to create division among us." In the Arabic video clip, with English subtitles provided by SITE Intelligence Group that tracks online activity of white supremacist and jihadist organisations, Zawahiri also reads out a poem, which he says he wrote for "our Mujahid sister" and for her "brave feat"

"May Allah reward her for exposing Hindu India's deceptive democracy and emphasizing the reality of its Hindu culture," the Al-Qaeda chief said in the video, ending speculations about his death from natural causes.

"What Zawahiri said is wrong," Khan said, noting that Muskan has also seen the video. "... she wants to study," he added.

M Khan responded to a question about demands to investigate any links from a section of the public, he said let it be done, there is a law, government and police for it.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra reacted to the video release by saying it proves unseemly forces are involved.

The police and home departments are monitoring developments in this matter.

In February, at the height of the hijab row, a student wearing a saffron shawl in Mandya, was heckled for wearing a hijab at the college.

Upon hearing the students shout "Jai Shri Ram," Muskan responded with "Allah-hu-Akbar." The college authorities intervened and brought the situation under control.