Muslims move Supreme Court, state court to stop release of propaganda film
Advocates and Muslim groups have turned to the courts in an attempt to stop the release of an upcoming anti-Muslim and Hindu supremacist propaganda movie, “The Kerala Story,” which falsely claims that 32,000 Hindu women from Kerala state converted to Islam and joined ISIS.
A prominent Muslim scholarly group, the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, has moved the Supreme Court to stay the film’s release, citing fear that the movie’s propaganda will lead to further anti-Muslim hatred and violence.
“The movie… will result in endangering the life and livelihood of the petitioners and the entire Muslim community in our country,” the group said in its petition.
In addition to citing numerous sources proving that the film’s entire premise is false, the group also raised concerns that the movie portrays all Muslims, including young people, as radicalized extremists working under the direction of ISIS-supporting scholars.
“The movie is clearly aimed at spreading hatred and enmity between different sections of society in India,” the petition said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Anoop V. R. has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Kerala High Court, seeking removal of the film’s certificate for public display.
The petition labels the film as “insulting” to the people of Kerala and demands a stay on the film’s release until “all the incorrect and unverified statements or scenes derogatory to the Muslim community and the state of Kerala.”
BJP leader says those who speak against Hindus will be killed in extrajudicial encounters
A lawmaker from the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) threatened that dissenters against Modi’s India will be killed in extrajudicial encounters during an election rally in Karnataka state.
“Anyone who speaks against India will be encountered. We will stop sending them to jail. Decision will be taken on the road itself,” said BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatna.
Yatna also issued a direct threat to Muslims, calling for those who “speak about” Hinduism to be shot.
“If you speak about our faith or about India or about Hindus, then you will be shot,” he said.
Final hearing in Gujarat 2002 gang-rape case delayed after convicts raise dispute
The Supreme Court’s final hearing of pleas challenging the release of 11 Hindu extremist men, who were convicted of gang-raping a pregnant Muslim woman and murdering her family members during the Gujarat 2002 pogrom, was delayed after the convicts’ defense baselessly accused the victim, Bilkis Bano, of “playing fraud on the court.”
Justice K.M. Joseph rebuked the convicts for attempting to delay the hearing.
“It is clear what is being attempted here… It is obvious you do not want this bench to hear the matter,” he said.
When she was 21 years old, Bano was attacked by a Hindu mob along with 16 other family members while fleeing Hindu extremist mob violence in her Gujarat village. Bano, who was five months pregnant, was gang-raped and brutally assaulted, along with her mother and other women in her family. Bano’s three-year-old daughter was killed when a Hindu extremist smashed her on the ground. Only three members of the family survived the attack, including Bano.
