THE “LIGHT” CASE BEFORE THE KING

King George V
King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India

In a letter dated February 1, 1928, to one of our friends here in India, Mrs. Zahida Pearl of London, one of our most enthusiastic sisters in Islam writes to say:

Bismillah

MY DEAREST BROTHER, – Salaam Alaikum!

No letter from you by the last mail. I feel much worried. Is it because of the sentence on Yakub Khan? It has touched me—and to think an Englishman is responsible for it makes it worse. What injustice! Do tell me if I can do anything to help in any way. When I received the Light this week, I cut out the part about the sentence, etc. and immediately sent them with a letter of protest to the King. I will let you have a copy of the reply. I would like to speak on a platform denouncing such unjust action. Yet, I am sure, Right will conquer in the end.

                                                                         ZAHIDA

Subsequently, as a reminder, Mrs. Pearl wrote the following letter to Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State for India.

DEAR SIR, – On February 2nd, 1928, the King’s Private Secretary wrote me saying, that my letter which had been addressed to His Majesty the King, together with my two cuttings from an Indian paper called Light, had been transmitted to you. I shall be very grateful if you will acknowledge the receipt of these, and also give your promise to personally investigate the whole unfortunate affair, whereupon I am certain that justice will prevail.

Yours faithfully,

ZAHIDA PEARL

The following disappointing reply was finally received by our sister, Mrs. Zahida Pearl: —

India Office, Whitehall,

London, S. W. 1.

18th February 1928.

MADAM, Your petition of the 30th January addressed to His Majesty the King for the release of Maulvi Yakub Khan Sahib has been referred by the King to the Secretary of State for India who has by His Majesty’s Command given it careful consideration but regrets that he feels himself unable to advise the King to comply with your request.

                                      I am, Madam,

                                                Your obedient Servant,

                                                            (Sd.)

                                                                   Secretary,

                                                  Public & Judicial Department