Indian schoolteacher imprisoned for celebrating Pakistan’s recent victory
Indian schoolteacher imprisoned for celebrating Pakistan’s recent victory
November 5, 2021 Authorbaji55
Nafeesa Attari, like countless others across the world, was hooked to
her television when India took on Pakistan in the T20 World Cup opener.
The schoolteacher from Udaipur, in northern India, watched as Pakistan prevailed by ten wickets in a flawless and impressive victory. She was detained and imprisoned in a prison cell a few days later. Her alleged crime: a WhatsApp update congratulating Pakistan on its success.
She is one of numerous Muslims in India who have been imprisoned for cheering Pakistan in the recent game, sparking worries about the world's greatest democracy's freedom of speech. Observers claim that the arrest is the newest weapon in the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign to suppress Muslim minorities, an accusation that the government vigorously denies.
Ms Attari wrote over a photograph of several of the team's players – “we wonnn”. One of her pupils' parents noticed her post and shared it with others before it went widespread on the messaging site. Ms. Attari was sacked from her employment as a teacher and arrested under a part of the Indian Penal Code that punishes statements detrimental to "national integration."
She was distressed in an appearance with a local TV station, apologising for offending. She said that someone messaged her in response to her WhatsApp messaging status and asked if she was backing Pakistan. She added that the text had emoticons and the tone seemed to her quite humorous thus she admitted she supported Pakistan. She explained that she is “an Indian” and she loves India.
She has returned home with her husband and young child after obtaining bail and is contesting the allegations. Her lawyer – Rajesh Singhyi commented that what the cops have done is against the law and completely unacceptable. It is neither a crime or anti-national to disagree with someone nor when they did something wrong.
The former schoolteacher had been reported to the police by Rajendra Parmar, a supporter of the radical Hindu nationalist party Bajrang Dal. He told the BBC that in his opinion, these individuals should relocate to Pakistan. He added that they’re living and making money in India, and he is not impressed that they're congratulating Pakistan on its victory.
Mr Parmar stated that he had no remorse for filing the allegation. He stated that this should serve as a warning to her and that she is unfit to be a teacher in giving this kind of influence to the children. His statements tapped into the underlying enmity that many Indians and Pakistanis have felt toward one other since the independence from India in 1947.
A few years ago, a Pakistani cricket fan of India's captain, Virat Kohli, was arrested in 2016 after displaying the Indian flag as respect to him.
Emotions run high in both nations when it comes to cricket, but the recent charges in India have sound absurd to many who believe that the room for freedom of speech is rapidly decreasing.
The schoolteacher from Udaipur, in northern India, watched as Pakistan prevailed by ten wickets in a flawless and impressive victory. She was detained and imprisoned in a prison cell a few days later. Her alleged crime: a WhatsApp update congratulating Pakistan on its success.
She is one of numerous Muslims in India who have been imprisoned for cheering Pakistan in the recent game, sparking worries about the world's greatest democracy's freedom of speech. Observers claim that the arrest is the newest weapon in the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign to suppress Muslim minorities, an accusation that the government vigorously denies.
Ms Attari wrote over a photograph of several of the team's players – “we wonnn”. One of her pupils' parents noticed her post and shared it with others before it went widespread on the messaging site. Ms. Attari was sacked from her employment as a teacher and arrested under a part of the Indian Penal Code that punishes statements detrimental to "national integration."
She was distressed in an appearance with a local TV station, apologising for offending. She said that someone messaged her in response to her WhatsApp messaging status and asked if she was backing Pakistan. She added that the text had emoticons and the tone seemed to her quite humorous thus she admitted she supported Pakistan. She explained that she is “an Indian” and she loves India.
She has returned home with her husband and young child after obtaining bail and is contesting the allegations. Her lawyer – Rajesh Singhyi commented that what the cops have done is against the law and completely unacceptable. It is neither a crime or anti-national to disagree with someone nor when they did something wrong.
The former schoolteacher had been reported to the police by Rajendra Parmar, a supporter of the radical Hindu nationalist party Bajrang Dal. He told the BBC that in his opinion, these individuals should relocate to Pakistan. He added that they’re living and making money in India, and he is not impressed that they're congratulating Pakistan on its victory.
Mr Parmar stated that he had no remorse for filing the allegation. He stated that this should serve as a warning to her and that she is unfit to be a teacher in giving this kind of influence to the children. His statements tapped into the underlying enmity that many Indians and Pakistanis have felt toward one other since the independence from India in 1947.
A few years ago, a Pakistani cricket fan of India's captain, Virat Kohli, was arrested in 2016 after displaying the Indian flag as respect to him.
Emotions run high in both nations when it comes to cricket, but the recent charges in India have sound absurd to many who believe that the room for freedom of speech is rapidly decreasing.