This vile article by @MainaBismee showcases her prejudice, her hatred of Muslims and her rampant Islamophobia. It is one of the most disgusting things I have read right up there with the venom spewed by the likes of Arnab Goswami. #TablighiJamaat https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/dear-muslims-tablighi-jamaat-committed-a-crime-against-humanity-dont-defend-them/392698/

Leave aside that on March 13th, the Health Ministry said "that Coronavirus is not a health scare." Leave aside that the Jammat at Nizamuddin Markaz ended on March 15th. Leave aside that during these dates, politicians, and VIP were still gathering in large numbers.

Never mind that Arvind Kejriwal did not ban religious meets until March 16th. Leave aside that 40,000 visitors were still at Tirupati on March 18th. Leave aside that Janta curfew was not announced until March 22nd, and lockdown commenced March 25th.

Leave aside that Yogi Adityanath attended Ram Navami event in Ayodhya on 25th March. After all the aforementioned facts, if you still want to criticize the #TablighiJamaat Nizamuddin meet, ok fine. You can even say they were ignorant of the dangers of COVID19

and that it was not apt for them to hold such a gathering. However, so many gatherings and events were going on organised by people of various faith, and yet you target only one religious group. For @MainaBismee, Muslims are the enemy, her whole framework for the article

is predicated on linking it to ideology. When she articulates that "This outdated and orthodox movement" and that "Tablighi Jamaat should force us to think of our religious practices in every day life", that has nothing do with the irresponsibility of holding a gathering.

It moves into an ideological realm. Orthodox Islam simply refers to the tradition to whom the majority of Muslims belong. Yet for @MainaBismee 'Orthodox Muslims' are "outdated" and it seems the enemy. This is an insidious attack on identity of the majority of Muslims in India.

In effect, what Bismee is saying is akin to what the RSS desires, i.e. Muslims should cease to exist, shun their identity, and forsake their normal religious practices. From the clothes we wear, to the phrases we use, to the mosques we visit, we should empty ourselves of Islam.

What @MainaBismee is doing is legitimising and contributing to rampant Islamophobia. Even worse, she is contributing to the violence inflicted upon this marginalised community. The vilification of the Jewish people started long before the Nazi's perpetrated the holocaust.

There was a concerted effort to demonise, denigrate Jewish identity, and Judaism. What is happening through the media via the bigotry of Arnab Goswami, @RubikaLiyaquat, @sudhirchaudhary and @MainaBismee is that Muslim identity is being attacked systematically.

It doesn't matter what type of Muslim you are, for these individuals you are only good if you renounce your identity and faith, and bow down before their supremacist agenda. The way things are going, just existing as a Muslim is deemed dangerous.

One of the most egregious things about the article is that it even goes on to reference ISIS, when there is zero connection. That in itself is highly revealing of the authors intent, and indicative of how she wants to promulgate hatred against Muslims.