After the fatal attacks on tourists on April 22 in India -ruled Kashmir, the wave of anti -Muslim hatred and violence spread in various parts of India. In just two weeks of the attack, at least five anti -Muslim incidents have occurred across the country, the Delhi -based human rights organization ‘Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) said.
This violence is not only responsive, but it is clear how the doubts and hatred of Muslims in the political and social reality of India have been brought to the mainstream.
Pahelgam attack and its subsequent situation
On April 22, unidentified gunmen attacked Kashmir tourist center Pahelgam and killed 20 people. India operates a military operation or operation called ‘Operation Sindur’, through which India carried out various targets inside Pakistan. The Indian government claims that Pakistan is directly involved in the Pahelgam attack, although Islamabad has denied it.
As the operation has increased the border on the one hand, it has had a profound impact on internal politics, especially in the attitude and behavior of the Muslim community.
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According to the APCR data, almost half of the five incidents were hateful statements, the rest were threats, physical persecution, destruction of shops and property, social harassment, abuse and murder. Of these incidents, hundreds of these incidents have been directly in response to the Pahalegam attack.
In the area like Ambala, the slogan ‘Joy Sriram’ has been set on fire in the Muslim shop. It was not a hellish public, but a planned violence led by the extremist Hindutva organization.
The politics of doubt and the crisis of Muslim citizenship
The deepest crisis of this violence was created with the idea of citizenship of Indian Muslims. To be a Muslim recognized citizen in India today, not only love to India is enough- they also have to prove to hate Pakistan.
Analyst Sarah told ‘Middle East Eye’ that Muslims are now being forced to make a statement against Pakistan, not only to take a stand for India, but also strongly. This is not a patriotism, it is an insult.
Nowadays, in the media, journalists take the microphone to the Muslims and forcibly try to get their views what they say against Pakistan. It is now as the criterion for Indian Muslims.
Recently, there has been evidence of how dire this social pressure, doubt and discrimination can be. In early May, a Muslim person committed suicide, who was physically assaulted by a local journalist and was accused of ‘Pakistani’. After the incident, the journalist escaped from the scene.
There is a social context behind this death, where Muslims suspect have become normal.
Writer Hussein Haidri said that in India, Muslims were ridiculed for many years as ‘Pakistani’. The Muslim -dominated area is called ‘Mini Pakistan’. In cricket matches, they became a joke as a supporter of Pakistan. They are told- ‘Go back to Pakistan’. This culture has long been created in Indian society.
This cultural structure is not surprising when India-Pakistan tensions increase, it is not surprising to become a target of Indian Muslims. Rather, it is a revolved image, which is getting worse now.
In today’s Indian reality, Muslims have to pass the test of certain patriotism to be acceptable. Otherwise, they were identified as ‘traitors’, ‘militant’ or ‘chars of Pakistan’.
Sara Ather said it was not an inclusive society, but a kind of force of unity. Those who cannot meet these ‘criteria’ are likely to monitor, social boycott, harass and violence.
Political silence
Against this growing hatred, mainstream political parties are rarely protesting publicly. Even the opposition parties are afraid that if they oppose it, then the public or state investigation may face.
This silence actually makes the hateful environment more normal. As a result, law enforcement remains silent, and the fierce groups are able to get violently violent.
The introduction of social and news media
Over the years, hatred against Muslims has been spread through various means. Textbooks, television debates, political speeches, WhatsApp messages and social media have been described as ‘other’ or ‘dangerous’ for Muslims.
This cultural and informative preparations are just as the Pahelgam attack, just as the attack on a particular community spreads against a particular community.
To the Muslim people of India, the environment of violence and doubt is not only insecure, but also a permanent crisis. If the state wants to test its citizens on religious patriotism, it is no longer democracy.
It becomes a majorist, racist system, where the existence of minorities is questionable.
Although the roar of the weapons on the border stopped after the Kashmir attack, there was an invisible war against Muslim identity within India. This war is fighting not with any weapons, but through doubt, humiliation, discrimination and silence.
Every time India-Pakistan tensions increase, Indian Muslims have to give ‘trial of loyalty’. Now that test has become more clear, public and ruthless.
The question is no longer patriotic for Muslims. The question is, is India ready to accept its Muslim citizens unconditionally? Or will the culture of imposing doubts and conditions to them? Until that acceptance is confirmed, Indian Muslims have to pay this price- in exchange for their lives, security and dignity.
Source: Middle East Eye
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