This Eid, Muslims And Hindus Come Together To Protest Against Lynchings Wearing Black Armbands
Of late, the baseless killing of Muslims, frequently linked to cow trade, slaughter or suspected consumption of cow meat, have spiked.
Hafiz Junaid was just 16-years-old when he was lynched two days ahead of Eid. He is the latest victim of the continuous atrocities on Muslims across the country. Junaid was murdered after a scuffle broke out in a train over a seat in Haryana¡¯s Palwal area. He, along with his two brothers, had gone to Delhi for Eid shopping.
On way back to Delhi on a Mathura passenger train, they had a heated argument over a seat but their beards were pulled and their skull caps were thrown down.
People watched and even encouraged the mob who proceeded to repeatedly stab Junaid, while all branded him ¡®anti-national¡¯. His crime ¨C someone from the crowd alleged that one of the food packets Junaid was carrying contained beef.
Photos of the blood-spattered compartment were all over the internet, revealing the gory sight of the incident.
'Black Eid 2017'
In the wake of Junaid¡¯s lynching, people from his village Khandwali, in Ballabhgarh, have decided not to celebrate Eid and sport black armbands while offering Namaz, marking a silent protest. The village sarpanch said that Eid would not be a splendid event this time. Their decision has found resonance with a large section of people from all communities across the country, who have copied the gesture to express solidarity with Muslims.
Of late, the baseless killing of Muslims, frequently linked to cow trade, slaughter or suspected consumption of cow meat, have spiked.
On Saturday, a campaign was started on social media in a call to support Muslims and raise voice against repeated mob killings. It gathered pace on Sunday with hashtags #StopKillingMuslims and #EidWithBackArmBand used widely.
Many activists and common citizens too gave a call to wear black bands on right arm when Muslims go for Eid namaz and Hindus throughout the day. The call, so far, has received a massive response.
In a silent protest, citizens have decided to refer to the day as ¡®Black Eid 2017¡¯ and share the photos of armband protest on social media. This is to serve as a wake up call to government, politicians and police to ensure law and order in the country.
Thousands of people have shared photographs wearing a black armband.
Protest At Jantar Mantar
A citizens¡¯ protest ¡®Not In My Name¡¯ against the targeted lynching of Muslims has been organised on June 28 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The protest calls citizens to come together through music and poetry to assert that targeted hatred and killings being unleashed - Is Not In Our Name.
bccl
Targeted Violence Against Muslims
On June 23, Jammu and Kashmir¡¯s Deputy superintendent of police Mohammed Ayub Pandith was lynched by a mob in Kashmir on the same day as Junaid. He was a Muslim wearing an Indian uniform enforcing the laws of India in the state marred by separatism. He was stripped naked and stoned to death by a furious mob in Srinagar. He was allegedly clicking pictures of people who were coming out of the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the Jammu and Kashmir capital.
pti
Cow vigilantes, taking law in their hands, senselessly kill Muslims on the false grounds of cow slaughter and consumption of cow meat. Gangs of "cow protectors" have been implicated in killing at least 10 people in the past two years as the welfare of the animal has become the primary issue in Indian politics.
On April 1, dairy farmer Pehlu Khan was killed by cow vigilantes in a spate of mob killings in the name of the revered animal, after a group attacked his cattle truck on a road in Alwar, Rajasthan. Khan was returning home from a cattle fair after buying a cow.
In September 2015, a mob of villagers attacked the home of a Muslim man Mohammed Ikhlaq, with sticks and bricks, who they suspected of stealing and slaughtering a stolen cow calf. Ikhlaq died in the attack, and his 22-year-old son Danish was seriously injured.
reuters
These are just some of the cases in succession of mob lynching and targeted violence against Muslims in the country. The situation has only worsened in the last two years with little Police control. As far as communal relations are concerned, there has been a total breakdown of law and order in the country.
Expressing solidarity and standing united seems to be one of the many steps towards communal harmony.