Bollywood actor Salman Khan retracts tweets saying Mumbai terrorist 'should not hang'

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has retracted comments he made on Twitter about convicted Mumbai terrorist Yakub Memon, after his dad phoned him and warned of their effect.

He made the U-turn after saying Memon should not hang for his part in the 1993 Mumbai – then Bombay – bombings that killed 257 and injured more than 700.

In 2007, Memon was one of 11 found guilty of plotting and executing 13 blasts, distributing arms and ammunition and of funding terror activities. He was the only person to be handed the death penalty sentence.

Khan took to Twitter to say Tiger Yemon – the brother of Yakub and a suspected mastermind of the attack – should hang for the crimes.

I had tweeted that Tiger Memon should hang for his crimes and I stand by it. What i also said is that Yakub Memon should not hang for him.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

I have not said or implied that Yakub Memon is innocent. I have complete faith in the judicial system of our country.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

Many lives were lost in the Mumbai blasts. And I have repeatedly said the loss of one innocent life is equal to the loss of all humanity.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

His posts were seized upon, forcing his father, the screenwriter Salim Khan, to address them.

"He (Salman) should not say anything about these kind of serious topics without any knowledge," Salim Khan said. "He should not have made such a comment. Salman is ignorant of the issue and people should not take him seriously."

The 49-year-old later retracted his comments, citing a conversation with his dad that changed his mind:

My dad called & said I should retract my tweets as they have the potential to create misunderstanding. I here by retract them.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

I also strongly condemn those who are claiming my tweets are anti religious. I have always said I respect all faiths and I always will.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

The comments came as The Supreme Court prepares to hear the plea of Yakub Memon, who is seeking a stay of execution of his death sentence scheduled for 30 July.