Recently, three Muslim girls found themselves at the receiving end of much vitriol when they were mercilessly trolled for dancing on the streets in Malappuram, Kerala.
The hijab-clad girls are students of a dental college who were performing a flash mob on World Aids Day, as a part of the District Health Department programme to raise awareness. A video of them dancing to the popular song Jimikki Kammal at the Kottakkunnu junction soon went viral and it took only moments for people to attack them.
Comments translated from Malayalam to English by the NewsMinute ranged from attacking the women for their "shameless" behaviour to calling them "a curse to the religion". Their families weren't spared either.
https://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2017-12/kerala-muslim-girls-dance-trolled-650_650x400_41512397650.jpg
"I am taken aback at the narrow-minded comments being shared on social media about the flash mob," the District Medical Officer Dr Sakeena told the NewsMinute.
Calling the women "sisters," one person addressed them on Facebook writing, "You must have been born elsewhere, perhaps Goa, not here. This is amusing time-pass for you, but how will you undo the dishonour you've brought upon your parents?"
While one user wrote, “Isn’t this Haraam? Waiting for fatwa now,” another wrote, “When did girls from islamic religion started dancing in #FlashMob. #Malappuram in #Kerala is a mini-#Syria. Hindu people are living in fear and islamic people are dancing. #SaveKerala #BJP4Kerala #RSS.”
However, they also received support from some people – “Everyone should have freedom to enjoy the life..great going,” wrote someone, another tweeted, “[E]very man and woman has personal independence…..when a beggar girl dance at train for some money then why we didn’t protest….I think every human being has personal independence.”
Watch the video here.
#WATCH: Three girls dance in a flash mob in Kerala's Malappuram (4.12.17) pic.twitter.com/niyNtIGXn5
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017
Here are some example of how they were trolled.
ये हराम है🙈🙈🙈🙊🙊🙊
— Aman (@ATJaman) December 4, 2017
Isn't this Haraam? Waiting for fatwa now
— deepak (@drdeepak1382) December 4, 2017
Islam khatre me aa gaya
— Hemanta Mishra (@HemantaMishra80) December 4, 2017
Fatwa k liye tayyar ho jao begum
— Milind Shah (@drshahmilind) December 4, 2017
Even after the post was deleted, hate continued to spew on social media as multiple versions of the video were shared widely.
The students had organised the flash mob as part of an AIDS awareness campaign programme to educate the public, Deputy District Medical Officer Malappuram Dr Muhammed Ali told the Times of India. The event included street plays and public rallies to mark World AIDS Day on December 1.
