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You want to know why Indian Muslims flinch so quickly at most things involving their identity?
You must've seen this on Twitter and thought to yourself "why am I not allowed to criticize them at all?"
Here's an explanation in brief.
You must've seen this on Twitter and thought to yourself "why am I not allowed to criticize them at all?"
Here's an explanation in brief.
In India, especially after BJP coming into power, Indian Muslims have been targeted at any given opportunity.
Our identity is used as a weapon against us by pinning each and every one of India's problems on us.
Our identity is used as a weapon against us by pinning each and every one of India's problems on us.
In the near past, Muslims were blamed for the spread of Corona virus in India.
And I'm not talking just about the TG incident, Muslims were targeted disproportionately at every stage.
From fake news about mosque attendance to iftar parties to Eid Al Adha celebrations and so on.
And I'm not talking just about the TG incident, Muslims were targeted disproportionately at every stage.
From fake news about mosque attendance to iftar parties to Eid Al Adha celebrations and so on.
Muslim identity has been beaten up and propped up as a villain throughout this pandemic while massive temple gatherings and Hindu celebrations continue without even a modicum of outrage.
Even before the virus, every aspect of the Muslim identity has been severely stigmatized.
Even before the virus, every aspect of the Muslim identity has been severely stigmatized.
The stigmatization is usually very disproportionate as well. You won't see any other religious identity come under such scrutiny as the Muslim identity.
In politics, news and even films, anything related to our identity is vilified and used against us at large scale.
In politics, news and even films, anything related to our identity is vilified and used against us at large scale.
They take pictures of people praying in a decommissioned railway station and make a fake news story that Muslims are holding up trains.
They outrage over the Adhan while temples are free to play their hymns and songs on loudspeakers.
They outrage over the Adhan while temples are free to play their hymns and songs on loudspeakers.
They create photoshopped images of prominent Muslim celebrities and associate them with terrorists.
Any time a Muslim lynched, it automatically becomes a case of bike theft and all the counter arguments and fact checks fall on deaf ears.
Any time a Muslim lynched, it automatically becomes a case of bike theft and all the counter arguments and fact checks fall on deaf ears.
The amount of fake Quranic verses that float on social media that are created purposely with the intention to paint Muslims as ignorant/backwards/violent is so high that countering them has become futile.
When the Prime Minister says "protesters can be identified by their clothes", he gives credence to further vilify Indian Muslims.
Remember most victims from the anti CAA/NRC protests were students from AMU and JMI. This wasn't coincidence.
Remember most victims from the anti CAA/NRC protests were students from AMU and JMI. This wasn't coincidence.
When the police shouted to beat up the mullas while entering those colleges, they had only one intention in mind.
It wasn't to suppress dissent, that was secondary. The first priority was to attack Muslims.
It wasn't to suppress dissent, that was secondary. The first priority was to attack Muslims.
We've been bearing the brunt of communal violence silently for many years.
When homeowners refuse to sign the lease once they come to know your name is of a Muslim, when schools refuse to accept your child and when politicians blame you for violence, you're bound to be flinchy.
When homeowners refuse to sign the lease once they come to know your name is of a Muslim, when schools refuse to accept your child and when politicians blame you for violence, you're bound to be flinchy.
Every small aspect of Indian Muslim's identity has been on non-stop attack since 2014. Anything that's even remotely associated with our identity is severely demonized.
So you might be coming from a good-hearted place when you try to offer "reformation suggestions" on Twitter.
So you might be coming from a good-hearted place when you try to offer "reformation suggestions" on Twitter.
But you need to remember we're all actively fighting a literal fascist govt. Their top enemy is the Indian Muslim.
So when you offer your advice, remember it's all fodder for the fascists.
So when you offer your advice, remember it's all fodder for the fascists.
When you nitpick on small aspects of our identity, remember it'll always snowball into further stigmatizing an already marginalized community.
That's why you always see us being protective of things that shape the identity of an Indian Muslim.
That's why you always see us being protective of things that shape the identity of an Indian Muslim.
It isn't borne out of "religious fundamentalism", it comes from being cautious because in the past we've seen things like this gain traction and leading to the deaths of Muslims in India.
While the fascists are busy trying to erase our existence, the last thing we need is you contributing in erasing our identity as well.
