Press Release: Surge of Anti-Muslim Sentiment Follows Kashmir Attack
Mumbai, India – A chilling wave of anti-Muslim sentiment has erupted in India following the tragic April 22 attack in Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a local pony rider. Within hours of the incident, provocative music targeting Indian Muslims has surged, exemplified by a song titled “Pehle Dharam Pocha” (They Asked About Religion First), accusing Muslims of conspiracies against Hindus and calling for their departure from India. Garnering over 140,000 views in just a week, it reflects a broader genre known as Hindutva Pop.
As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, the response from the public sphere has been alarming. Reports indicate that at least 20 songs promoting Islamophobia have circulated, linking the attack to a narrative portraying Muslims as existential threats to Hindus. This online rhetoric has provoked significant real-world violence. The Association For Protection Of Civil Rights has documented 21 incidents of anti-Muslim attacks since the attack, including assaults on Kashmiri students and calls for economic boycotts against Muslims.
Politicians linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have fueled the flames. Some party members publicly advocated for boycotting Muslim businesses, while others have been implicated in violent acts and hate speeches targeting the Muslim community.
Raqib Hameed Naik, of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, noted a notable rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric online since the attack, emphasizing its potential to justify real-world violence. The pervasive inflammatory content is painting a dangerous picture of communal relations in India, raising fears that this campaign of hate could escalate further, complicating an already tense socio-political landscape.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
