Anti-Muslim propaganda film banned in West Bengal, stops screening in Tamil Nadu
The producer of the recently-released anti-Muslim propaganda film “The Kerala Story” has threatened legal action against the government of West Bengal state after it banned screenings of the film to prevent anti-Muslim violence.
The movie falsely claims that 32,000 Hindu women from Kerala state converted to Islam and joined ISIS after being lured into extremism by seemingly innocuous Muslims in their communities.
“[This ban] is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The ban was announced just a day after theaters in Tamil Nadu state decided to stop screenings of the film due to protests, poor box office performance, and stinging critical reviews.
“If the state government won’t listen to us, we will explore legal avenues,” said producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah in response to West Bengal state’s ban.
Despite the criticisms, the filmmakers have received resounding support from Hindu extremist groups and politicians alike. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur publicly declared that anyone who opposes the film is a supporter of ISIS.
Hindu extremists push for survey of one of India’s largest mosques
As part of a larger trend of Hindu extremists attempting to wrench ownership of historic mosques away from Muslims across India, a Hindu extremist group is now trying to seize control of the 17th-century Jama Masjid Badaun, one of the largest mosques in India.
After a Hindu extremist group falsely claimed that the mosque was formerly a Hindu temple, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filed an application in a local court seeking permission to conduct a survey to find “proof” of temple remains.
Similar surveys were carried out in other historic mosques across the country, including Uttar Pradesh state’s Gyanvapi mosque. After Hindu extremists declared that the mosque’s ablution fountain was a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva, the fountain was sealed off and Muslims were barred from using their own facilities.
Minor arrested for criticizing Hindu king on Instagram
Just days after Reporters Without Borders announced India’s 11-point drop in freedom of press and expression, a minor in Maharashtra state was detained by police for criticizing a Hindu king on Instagram.
The minor was charged with “promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion” and “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings” after a Hindu supremacist autorickshaw driver filed a complaint.
Reportedly, the minor will be further investigated in wake of his arrest. By contrast, Hindu minors in Maharashtra state who lured an 11-year-old Muslim boy to a secluded area, stripped him, and filmed him while forcing him to chant Hindu religious slogans were swiftly granted bail despite the severity of their actions.
