 Print
FINGER-WAGGING MUSLIM WOMEN – THE BECOME THE FACE OF INDIAN PROTESTORS
1-22-2020
We dedicate our editorial to the brave, courageous, and fearless three finger wagging young Muslim women of India, Ayesha Renna, Ladeeda Farzana Sakhaloon, and Shaheen. They demonstrated to the world on how to rescue a victim during a lynching incident. Real life demo by women students of Jamia. Bravo!
The three young Muslim women of in New Delhi stood up to shear police brutality caught on camera. They formed a barricade around a male student being attacked by baton-swinging police caught in a video that has gone viral. The videos shows the four young women rush to surround the young man as police in riot gear thrash at him with two-meter bamboo sticks known as "lathi". They then point their fingers at the officers and shout "police go back, go back" during the incident in New Delhi. They are the new face of protest against Indian government’s discriminatory amendments to its citizenship laws, targeting Indian Muslims. They have become instant “Sheros.”
The Police are targeting Muslim students among other protestors who continue to protest across India in a nationwide campaign against India’s latest attempt to undermine Indian Muslim and minority rights through Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), rendering them second class citizens.
"We don't have any fear of this government, the police or anyone," one of the women, history student Ayesha Renna, 22, told an Indian television channel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the butcher of Gujurat, who in 2002, as Chief Minister of Gujurat province is the mastermind of Gujurat Riots which targeted Muslims in which more than 2000 Muslim were mercilessly butchered by Hindu mobs during those blazing riots, and none have been brought to justice till this day.
Now as the Prime Minister, Mr. Modi in his quest to convert India’s secular democracy into a nation for Hindus – Hindutva – has introduced series of amendments to Indian citizenship laws, targeted at minorities, especially Muslims.
The latest series of protests were sparked by parliament passing legislation easing for three neighbouring countries to get Indian citizenship. Excluded in the group are Muslims.
"Students have the right to protest. Violence against peacefully protesting students cannot under any circumstance be justified," rights group Amnesty International said on Monday.
Jamia Millia Islamia university vice-chancellor Najma Akhtar said Monday that 200 people were injured but police put the number at 39 students and 30 officers hurt – one of them critically.
The Washington Post reported that “a physician at a hospital in Delhi said at least two protesters had to seek treatment for bullet wounds.”
The group seen in the viral video told Al Jazeera “they were participating in demonstrations Sunday but fled to a stranger’s house near the campus to avoid clashes with police. It was from there that police eventually dragged the young man and began beating him.”
Washington post reported that “Opponents to the law say it is a clear violation of India’s secular foundation. The legislation will pave the way for certain non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to seek Indian citizenship. India is a predominantly Hindu country, but about 200 million Indians practice Islam. Critics see the new law as just one among several measures pushed through by Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they say have effectively rendered Muslims second-class citizens.”
“Barkha Dutt, a New Delhi-based TV anchor and contributing columnist to The Post’s opinion section, posted a video on Twitter interviewing Renna and Ladeeda Farzana, one of the other women in the video, alongside their injured male friend, whom they named only as Shaheen.
Speaking to Dutt, Renna and Farzana said they felt no fear in the face of the police and that their families were proud of them for speaking up. By Monday afternoon, the interview had been viewed 195,000 times. When Dutt asked them what message they would share with other young women who saw them confront the police, Renna replied, “If you see any injustice in the society . . . just get out, raise your voice."
The Indian media has gone berserk over these women, trying to find any negative connection. Both Ayesha and Ladeeka had to deactivate their Facebook accounts because of harassing messages from people and pro-modi media trying to examine their past posts and giving their own propagandist spin.
Equally they enjoy the support of the wider sensible community. Twitter is in awe of these two for fearing no one when faced with such extreme amount of violence. “Proud of you Ayesha Renna who put her life in danger to save other's lives. It was an honour to have students like you sit in my class. Proud of all such students from Jamia who are coming out to support each other.” Wrote one individual. “Brave, Brave women. Salute.” Wrote another.
"Brave girls. This is what real families do to protect each other, physically and mentally," wrote another user.
Campaigner Bilal Zaidi, who shared a longer version of the video of the attack on his Facebook page, asked: "Who needs lynch mobs now?"
But perhaps the most touching response to the bravery of the women came from Renna's husband and journalist, Afsal Rahman CA.
"I don't know how much I should bow down before Allah to be blessed with a better half like her. More power to you my girl Renna. He will reward you for all the pains you bear," the proud husband posted on Facebook. Reported Aljazeera
The two women, Ayesha and Ladeeka have become the front face of the protest that has engulfed the entire nation, travelling from one city to another, attending protests, and rallying the crowd.
They were in Hyderabad to speak at protest meetings on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Both women said they were undeterred by campaigns by the BJP to discredit them.
“Let them do whatever they want. We won’t be fazed. We will prevail,” they said.
Modi’s BJP led State machinery has mobilized to silence the duo from speaking against the CAA demanding apologies.
Nonetheless, the brave and courageous duo remains unmoved and undeterred in exposing Modi anti-Muslim campaign in India.
Footnotes:
|