GCC and
Arab Support for Indian Muslims (JR 225)
Introduction
The
rising Islamophobia from Indian expats living in the Gulf nations has come
under the radar of many gulf citizens, activists and intellectuals as not only
the crime against Muslims in India has increased but also the attacks from the
right-wing individuals on social media has seen a rise after the Coronavirus
pandemic was given a communal angle by Indian Media.
Indian Reaction
The attack on
Muslims had a backlash and GCC and Arab States started to remove Right Wing
Hindus from jobs, alarmed at this development Midi reacted. Prime Minister Modi,
while addressing parliamentarians via video conferencing on April 9, 2020,
compared the situation in the country to a ‘social emergency’ but did not
mention how Muslims were being targeted as a result of rumor mongering and fake
news spread by news channels and leaders from his own political party.
Amit Malviya,
who heads BJP’s IT cell, is one of those posting
provocative statements on Twitter. On April 1, 2020 he
tweeted saying, ‘Delhi’s dark underbelly is exploding! Last 3 months have seen
an Islamic insurrection of sorts, first in the name of anti-CAA protests from
Shaheen Bagh to Jamia, Jaffrabad to Seelampur. And now the illegal gathering of
the radical Tablighi Jamaat at the markaz. It needs a fix!
On April 6,
2020, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje claimed
that members of Tablighi Jamaat who were admitted to a
hospital in Belagavi in Karnataka were spitting, misbehaving with the hotel
staff, and dancing and gesturing indecently. Her claim was later denied
by the deputy commissioner of the district and
hospital authorities. No action was taken against her by her party.
On
April 4, 2020, Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Rajeev Bindal claimed that ‘the
Centre and state governments are leaving no
stone unturned in the decisive fight against COVID-19 but some people,
including Tablighi Jamaat, members are moving like human bombs to thwart their efforts’. On April 9, 2020, senior BJP
leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis also referred
to members of Tablighi Jamaat who were returning from Delhi as ‘human bombs’.
The BJP was
clearly using the pandemic to target members of the Tablighi Jamaat – and by
extension all Muslims. Which is why Prime Minister Modi’s statement on Twitter
on April 19, 2020, came as a surprise to many. He tweeted to say,
‘COVID-19 does
not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before
striking it. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity
and brotherhood. We are in this together’.
If the message
was aimed at people within India, his choice of medium was odd. The words were
taken from an article he wrote in English for
the LinkedIn networking website, and intended for a
global and not an Indian audience. The timing of
Modi’s ‘message’ was perhaps not a coincidence, as it has come in handy for Indian ambassadors in the Gulf dealing with massive local pushback over the various
Islamophobic incidents that have occurred across India in the wake of the
COVID-19 crisis. The Organisation of Islamic
Conference has also raised concerns about this:
2/2 #OIC-IPHRC urges the #Indian Govt to take urgent steps to stop the growing
tide of #Islamophobia in India and protect the rights of its
persecuted #Muslim minority as per its obligations under
int"l HR law.
Thanks
to anti-Muslim bias in the media and even official messaging over the
coronavirus in India, the intelligentsia in India-friendly Gulf countries like
Kuwait and the UAE has started critically examining the ruling BJP’s attitudes
towards Muslims and Arabs.
A
2015 tweet from BJP MP Tejasvi Surya was dug out and shared by prominent Arab
voices. The tweet said, ‘95%
Arab women have never had an orgasm in the last few hundred years. Every mother
has produced kids as act of sex and not love’.
Surya
hurriedly deleted his offensive tweet but unfortunately for the young BJP
leader the damage had already been done. A screenshot of his tweet was picked
up by activists like Abdur Rahman Nassar from Kuwait, who have a large
following on social media, and circulated.
Nassar
tagged the PMO and Modi’s personal account and tweeted, ‘Prime Minister…An
Indian Member of Parliament accuses Arab women, and we Arabs are asking for his
membership to be dropped!!’.
Prime Minister ..
An Indian Member of Parliament accuses Arab women, and we Arabs are asking for his membership to be dropped !!@narendramodi@PMOIndia
An Indian Member of Parliament accuses Arab women, and we Arabs are asking for his membership to be dropped !!@narendramodi@PMOIndia
Other tweets from Nassar displayed the full import of the
criticism and why the sentiment could not be ignored by the government.
In Kuwait .. the #Indian community tops Koruna statistics .. and is
treated in the finest hospital in Kuwait ..
In Kuwait, there is no difference between the religions and nationalities of the sick .. This is justice#Rss_terrorists
In Kuwait, there is no difference between the religions and nationalities of the sick .. This is justice#Rss_terrorists
Every year, more than 55 billion $ are
transferred to India from the Gulf countries, and more than 120 billion
annually from all Muslim countries.
Indians (mostly Hindus) are treated well in these countries.
In return, how are Muslims treated in India?#india#Indian
Indians (mostly Hindus) are treated well in these countries.
In return, how are Muslims treated in India?#india#Indian
In 53 Muslim countries Indians where most of
them Hindu, are treated with humanity and respect ..
How do Muslims are treated in India?
How do Muslims are treated in India?
Nassar’s claim that
expats from 53 Muslim countries remit $120 billion annually to India had
obviously touched a raw nerve. The same sentiment was echoed by Mejbal Al
Sharika, a Kuwaiti lawyer and director of International Human Rights. He too
tagged a picture of BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, tagged the prime minister’s office
and Narendra Modi’s personal account and wrote,
‘Respected Prime Minister, India’s relation with the Arab world has been
that of mutual respect. Do you allow your parliamentarian to publicly humiliate
our women? We expect your urgent punitive action against @Tejasvi_Surya for his
disgraceful comment’.
A closer look at his twitter account reveals that Sharika
too has opened a front against the Modi government and has even volunteered to
adopt the cause of Indian Muslims before the United Nations Human Rights
Council. Here’s a glimpse of his twitter timeline:
I will adopt the cause of Muslims in India at the United Nations
Human Rights Council in Geneva for free#india
Brother jamal Abul Hassan, ex parliamentarian , Bahrain has just
joined me in supporting the cause of Indian Muslims. Let all know that I am
from Kuwait and everyone here who stands for Human rights is united in the
fight against Hindutva fascism!#india
I invite all lawyers and human rights activists to join with us
to remove the injustice of the poor in India by extremists that the conductor
of the case to the criminal court so that every criminal is held accountable#india
Another
prominent voice, Saudi Scholar Abidi Zahrani, asked for a list of
people who were working in the Middle-East and spreading hatred against Muslims
and Islam:
‘I
propose to all respected followers to list all militant Hindus who are working
in the GCC and spreading hate against #Islam #Muslims or our be loved Prophet
Mhmd PBUH under this #hashtag #Send_Hindutva_Back_home show copies of their
bio’.
Anger
against mistreatment of Muslims in India was seen in statements released by
prominent citizens, opinion makers and lawmakers across the Middle-East. Jamal
Bahrain, Secretary General of the Arab Parliamentary Initiative and Member of
the Global Parliamentary Network asked for the UN and OIC to intervene and stop human rights violations being committed against
Muslims:
‘We call
on international organizations, especially the United Nations, the Security
Council, the Organization of islamic cooperation and all human rights
organizations, to intervene immediately to stop the violations committed
against our Muslim brothers in India #India’.
Earlier
on April 16, 2020, Princess Hend al Qassimi of the Sharjah Royal Family had
warned a Twitter user of serious consequences after he put out several tweets
targeting Muslims for the spread of COVID-19 in India:
The ruling family is friends with Indians, but as a royal your
rudeness is not welcome. All employees are paid to work, no one comes for free.
You make your bread and butter from this land which you scorn and your ridicule
will not go unnoticed.
Modi’s call for brotherhood and unity between
communities has come because the prime minister and his government fear an
economic backlash from wealthy Arab countries.
Arab Reaction
Right-wing Indian expats in Gulf
countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait etc., are seen
blaming Muslims for the spread of Coronavirus, which has led them to criticize
Islam and dub the spread as ‘Corona Jihad’ on social media.
Despite many Indians sacked by Gulf
states for their posts on social media, there is a growing list of expats who
are landing in trouble for their alleged Islamophobic posts in the recent days.
An
Indian national working as a chief accountant in Dubai was sacked after his
posts went viral evoking criticism. Another individual working at a
facilities management company was sacked after his post caused outrage on
social media, there were other individuals, who were reported to Dubai police
for mocking Islam and Muslims.
A branch of Burger King in Kuwait has
sacked one of its employees after his post went viral.
The BK management also reiterated that these things will not be tolerated.
Elsewhere an Indian lost his job for his anti-Muslim rants on social media
after being reported to Kuwait authorities.
The allegations and hostility has been
criticized by many Gulf Citizens including Zahrani Abidi, Abdur Rahman Nassar, and
Princess Hend Al Qassimi, and many others.
Abdur Rahman Nassar
from Kuwait has been highly vocal about the way Indian Muslims are treated,
despite Indian expats from 53 Muslim countries remitting $120 Billion per year
to India.
Every year, more than 55 billion $ are
transferred to India from the Gulf countries, and more than 120 billion
annually from all Muslim countries.
Indians (mostly Hindus) are treated well in these countries.
In return, how are Muslims treated in India?#india#Indian
Indians (mostly Hindus) are treated well in these countries.
In return, how are Muslims treated in India?#india#Indian
In 53 Muslim countries Indians where
most of them Hindu, are treated with humanity and respect ..
How do Muslims are treated in India?
How do Muslims are treated in India?
RSS do not represent Hindu .. Many
Hindus are humanists and reject injustice
Princess Hend al Qassimi of the Sharjah
Royal Family, warned a twitter user after he put out several tweets targeting
Muslims over the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also used foul language and wrote,
“do whatever you want to do”, in a fiery tweet Princess responded to the
user “You make your bread and butter from this land which you scorn and
your ridicule will not go unnoticed.”
Later the user deactivated all his
social media profiles after Princess warned him of dire consequences.
The ruling family is friends with
Indians, but as a royal your rudeness is not welcome. All employees are paid to
work, no one comes for free. You make your bread and butter from this land
which you scorn and your ridicule will not go unnoticed.
UAE’s Guinness World Record Holder
Suhail Al Zarooni tweeted that, UAE has hosted and interacted with many
communities of various religious backgrounds, so it can never support any
element which disrespects any sentiment of any religion.
We have for the last many years hosted
and interacted with many communities of various religious backgrounds and can
never support any element which disrespects any sentiment of any religion.
Noora Al Ghurair, an Emarti
businesswoman, called out another twitter user, who is based in Dubai for past
20 years, for her tweet against Sunni Muslims, Noora tagged Dubai police and
warned that “Any call for boycott & hatred will not be accepted in our
lands”.
We will let @DubaiPoliceHQ
examine your tweets. Any call for boycott & hatred will not be accepted in
our lands. My timeline is being filled with your other hateful tweets. My head
is still reeling the way you connected dots all the way to Sunnis. @HSajwanization
one more.
Mejbel Al Sharika, a Kuwaiti Lawyer and
Director of International Human Rights has announced to voluntarily adopt the
cause of Indian Muslims at United Nations Human Council in Geneva, he has also
called out Indian Muslims to help in documenting the evidence of violence.
I will adopt the cause of Muslims in
India at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva for free#india
I invite all lawyers and human rights
activists to join with us to remove the injustice of the poor in India by
extremists that the conductor of the case to the criminal court so that every
criminal is held accountable#india
Some brothers and lawyers called me and
joined me. I am collecting evidence to accompany the complaint that will be
submitted to His Excellency the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court#india
Saudi Scholar Abidi Zahrani has
proposed to list all those individuals spreading hatred against Muslims and
Islam while working in GCC and the Middle-East.
I propose to all respected followers to list all militant
Hindus who are working in the GCC and spreading hate against #Islam #Muslims or
our be loved Prophet Mhmd PBUH under this #hashtag #Send_Hindutva_Back_home
show a copies of their bio.
show a copies of their bio.
After reviewing replies I noticed as outsiders we don’t know
the complications of India populations and since we are the nation of justice
and fairness
I suggest to change the hashtag to#Send_hindutva_back_home
This will satisfy all Indiana both Muslims and Hindus
I suggest to change the hashtag to#Send_hindutva_back_home
This will satisfy all Indiana both Muslims and Hindus
Columnist of Kuwait’s Al-Anba news Dr.
Mohammed Al-Sharika has tweeted in support of Indian Muslims that they are
subjected to radical practices and most brutal crimes, and urged the
International communities to take action to save lives.
#Muslims
in #India
are subjected to radical practices and most brutal crimes in time of injustice.
International community are called to take action to save lives of innocents
In another tweet, he called the
injustices and crimes committed against Indian Muslims as “hostile and crimes
against humanity”.
What is happening in #India
against #Muslims
can only be regarded as hostile and #crimes
against humanity
Abusing Muslims and denigrating Islam
has become the normality for most of the right-wing individuals working in the
Gulf, the resonance from prominent Gulf citizens has made Muslims take upon
themselves the task of reporting individuals spreading hatred against Islam and
Muslims while earning and living tax-free life in Gulf countries. All of which
is the result of section of the Indian Media spreading hate against Muslims,
across large swathes of Indian population.
Recently, an Omani Princess
Warned Narendra Modi to expel
one million Indian Workers from Oman if Narendra Modi and his government will
continue Genocide and atrocities against Indian Muslims. Addressing to the
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, ‘Her
Highness (HH) Mona Bint Fahd Al Said’ said “Oman stands with its Muslim
brothers and sisters in India. If the Indian Govt doesn’t stop the
persecution of Muslims, then 1 million workers living in Oman may be expelled.
I will definitely take up this issue with the Sultan of Oman.”. in
another tweet, HH Mona Bint Fahd Al-Said said: “I have been told that Indian
organisation RSS is behind the suffering of Muslims in India. It is supported
by the current Govt.
I urge the UN. EU_Commission, OIC_OCI and other prominent bodies to blacklist RSS as a terrorist organization.
I urge the UN. EU_Commission, OIC_OCI and other prominent bodies to blacklist RSS as a terrorist organization.
I have been told
that Indian organisation RSS is behind the suffering of Muslims in India. It is
supported by the current Govt.
I urge @UN @EU_Commission @OIC_OCI and other prominent bodies to blacklist RSS as terrorist organization.
I urge @UN @EU_Commission @OIC_OCI and other prominent bodies to blacklist RSS as terrorist organization.
Twitter voting:
Apr., 25, 2020: The twitter account holder is Abdul Rahman Al Nassar, a Kuwaiti
national. The message on twitter reads. I hope everyone votes. Do you support converting
the file of persecution of Muslims of India to the International Criminal Court? (Voting duration is
12 hours) .12 hours voting ended with the final results of 66,133 votes. Arab royals, as
well as a number of local intellectuals, took to Twitter to vent their anger
against the hostile comments, which mainly targeted Indian Muslims. Earlier
Princess Hend al-Qassimi, a member of the UAE royal family, reprimanded an
Indian working in Dubai who had targeted Muslims and blamed Tablighi Jamaat, an
Islamic missionary movement, for spreading the pandemic.She shared the UAE law
that bans hate speech and said that anyone who was “openly racist and
discriminatory in the UAE will be fined and made to leave.”Meanwhile, another
Twitter account holder from Gulf countries has launched a campaign to report
about the activities of RSS activists spreading hate and Islamophobia through
their social media accounts in many parts of the world. درع السنّة@d_alsunnah
Anyone
who knows any information about the secret Arabian Gulf RSS organization is
necessary to contact us
1.
GCC reacts: May, 1, 2020: In the past couple of weeks, the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC), the Kuwait government, a royal princess of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), as well as a number of Arab activists have called out
Islamophobic hate speech by Indians seen to be accusing the country's Muslims
of spreading the novel coronavirus. A barrage of tweets and statements from
individuals and institutions in the Gulf expressing their outrage over the
hateful social media posts forced the Indian government to respond, including a
Twitter post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he stressed that
"COVID-19 does not see race [or] religion". It started with right-wing
Hindus accusing Muslims of a "conspiracy" to spread the coronavirus
after dozens of cases were linked to a congregation of Tablighi Jamaat, a
Muslim missionary movement, at their headquarters in New Delhi in the middle of
March Following
the Jamaat issue, a wave of Islamophobic posts was unleashed on social media by
right-wing Hindus, some of them employed in Gulf countries. An old tweet by Tejasvi Surya, a young member of parliament
belonging to Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also resurfaced, provoking
further outrage "The level of hubris of the Hindutva fascists shocked
people throughout the world, changing previously held opinions," Dr Farhan
Mujahid Chak, who teaches political science in the Gulf Studies programme at
Qatar University, told Al Jazeera. Princess
Hend al-Qassimi, a member of the UAE royal family, warned "openly racist
and discriminatory" Indians in the Gulf that they "will be fined and
made to leave" the country.In the past month, at least six Hindus working
in the Gulf region have lost their jobs or have been charged for their social
media posts. On Monday, in what
was a clear sign of the issue escalating in the Arab world, Kuwait
expressed its "deep concern" over the treatment of India's Muslims
and asked the Organisation of International Cooperation (OIC) to intervene. Earlier, on April 18, the OIC had
issued a statement, urging India to take urgent steps to "stop the growing
tide of Islamophobia" in the country. Princess al-Qassimi, who has
emerged as one of the most prolific Arab voices against Islamophobia in India,
last week wrote a column for the Gulf News, in which she said: "The world
doesn't need another Hitler, but it needs another hero like Martin Luther,
Nelson Mandela, or Gandhi.""Killing your brethren doesn't make you a
hero, it makes you a dictator and murderer. A snowballing movement has been
started, which has reverberated across the Arab world," she wrote in her
piece, titled I pray for an India without hate and Islamophobia.
On Sunday, Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the far-right
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in an apparent reference to the
Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, said in an online speech from the group's
headquarters in Nagpur that it was "not right to blame the entire
community for the mistakes of few individuals". The RSS is the ideological
mentor of Modi's BJP. On Tuesday, in its worst rating since 2004, the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the State Department to
designate India as a "country of particular concern" over
"severe violations" of religious freedom. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/arabs-speaking-islamophobia-india-200423112102197.html
Conclusion
The timing of Modi’s ‘message’ was perhaps not a
coincidence, as it has come in handy for
Indian ambassadors in the Gulf dealing with massive local pushback over the
various Islamophobic incidents that have occurred across India in the wake of
the COVID-19 crisis. Modi’s call for brotherhood and unity between communities
has come because the prime minister and his government fear an economic
backlash from wealthy Arab countries.
A backlash from
Muslim nations can cause havoc of foreign remittance, buttressed by Muslims of
Indians working in these nations. There are also calls for bring up human rights violations to
light at UN and other International forums by Arab and GCC
analysis 