Tag: Islamophobia

Social media plays a huge role in todays society. We are often found hooked on to apps such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc. for hours on end. Social media is another form of finding out the latest news all around the country.  Instagram influencers also play a huge role in todays generation. Everyone searches to find the latest gossip on all social media platforms. Mila (MILOORS/INSTAGRAM) has sparked a national debate.

A young girl, aged 16, had recently posted her thoughts of Islam on Instagram live broadcast. The teen, from France, quoted that Islam is a “religion of hate”. Also stating “”I am not racist. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you’re not going to make me regret it” she said, before using stronger words to attack Islam. Her words have caused chaos as she is currently receiving death threats and has even been unable to attend school since.

The newspaper article had been released on February the 4th 2020. After trying to research her account, it is still confirmed as de activated.

The police had also investigated the crime committed. But have since dropped the hate speech case as they found that Mila had ‘voiced her opinion’ and not targeted certain individuals.  – Many would see her comments as unfair, a personal attack and considered as racial abuse to the Islamic religion. But she has not been punished for her opinion, merely because she was “voicing her opinion”. Surely, a 16 year old, would have been taught how to behave in such a way towards other groups of religion. It is todays generation that sparks racialism. The way a child is brought up and is taught plays a huge role. The question is where did her ‘opinion’ arise from? what makes her think the way she does? So who is really to blame? Her parents? Schools? The Media?

Mila had later appeared on the TMC channel where she had apologised for upsetting those who practise their religion in ‘peace’. Although, she did in fact go on to defend her remarks and stated “I have absolutely no regrets for what I said, it was really my thought”.

Councils, ministers and even the national rally leader had been involved in this debate. This has clarified the powers of social media. Her opinion has even lead to protests in France that had first begun from the debate about Muslim women being unable to wear a veil. The fact that her opinion had gone viral clarifies the huge influence social media has on individuals. Some had also defended her right to attack Islam. This clearly shows that even in 2020 there is still a segregation towards religions and the question is whether we as a society will ever solve these issues of on-going racial attacks towards religious groups…

The Indian government is currently led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. At the beginning of December India passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) which provides citizenship to religious minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian) from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The government have said the bill will give “sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution”. However, there has been widespread criticism of the bill saying it is part of the party’s agenda to marginalise Muslims.

The United Nations have expressed their concern:  “Although India’s broader naturalization laws remain in place, these amendments will have a discriminatory effect on people’s access to nationality”, said Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

During December 2019 there were protests reported by the media which showed people across India condemning the government’s actions. The protests were led by Muslims, those supporting Muslims, and others from people who live on the borders of India. The people who live on the borders of the country feel the Amendment will result in an increase in migration to their areas. The bill has received criticism from opposition as it violates the country’s secular constitution. The constitution forbids religious discrimination against Indian citizens, and guarantees all persons equality before the law and equal protection of the law. The new Amendment however brings religion as a focus of citizenship requirements which violates the cores of the constitution.

On 8th January 2020 the largest-ever strike happened in India where an estimated 250 million workers went on strike to protest against the government’s economic policies and divisive politics. The strike included workers from industries, coal, steel, oil, bankers, transport, ports, government offices, scheme workers, farmers and rural labourers. In addition private industries also took part from engineering, automobiles, transport, metals, textiles and power amongst others. This caused disruption across the country with many trains, buses and taxis not working and services forced to close. Over 60 universities and their affiliated colleges took part with thousands of students joining in protest marches and boycotting classes.

Despite the government warning public sector employees to not participate in the strike their warning was ignored. As Newsclick reported “Demands of the striking workers/employees include increase in minimum wages, reining in rising prices, policies to curb raging joblessness, rollback of hostile labour law changes, end to public sector sell-off, curbing contract and casual work.”

However, the other demand from the strikers is for the withdrawal of the communal citizenship laws and to end attacks on protesters and minorities. So far, the government have not conceded and protests are expected to continue.

This video from DW News goes into more detail about the CAB protests: