On Human Rights Day Afreen Fatima marks six months of father's unjust incarceration
Prayagraj: On Human Rights Day, prominent Muslim student activist Afreen Fatima took to Twitter to express her concerns about her jailed father, Javed Mohammad, a Muslim activist in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad. In her tweet, Afreen lamented the unjust incarceration of her father, emphasizing the cruelty of the state's actions.
Six months ago, Javed Mohammad, a 57-year-old leader of the Welfare Party of India, was arrested and accused of rioting. The arrest occurred in the aftermath of protests in Allahabad against comments made by BJP leaders concerning Prophet Muhammad. The police labeled Javed as the "mastermind" behind the protests, leading to his detention. Additionally, their family house was bulldozed by the authorities in what Afreen Fatima and her family have termed an "act of vendetta" by the government.
Afreen Fatima, a prominent leader of the Fraternity Movement and a vocal participant in historic protests advocating for the repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), condemned her father's arrest and the demolition of their house as unjust. On Human Rights Day, she highlighted the six-month mark of her father's incarceration, expressing her frustration with the state's actions and the lack of justice.
Afreen Fatima's father's arrest and the subsequent actions against her family have sparked outrage both within India and globally. Rights groups, including both Indian and international organizations, have been vocal in demanding the immediate release of Javed Mohammad and other Muslim activists who have faced similar charges.
Prominent political anthropologist Irfan Ahmad reacted to Afreen Fatima's tweet, emphasizing the unjust treatment faced by Muslims and dissenters in India. He condemned the actions as an imposition of "un-freedom" on individuals who resist ethnic and anti-Muslim policies, framing it as an ideology of supremacist Hindutva masquerading as democracy.
Afreen Fatima gained prominence during the historic protests led by Muslim groups advocating for the repeal of the CAA. She has played a significant role in the Fraternity Movement and previously served as the president of the women’s college students’ union at the Aligarh Muslim University. Additionally, she was elected as a councillor in the Jawaharlal Nehru University students’ union, demonstrating her active engagement in student politics and social activism.
It has been 6 months since the unjust incarceration of Abbu. I can write about how brave he has been, anecdotes from his life. But none of it matters for we live in a state that is cruel and vicious. All that matters is that it’s been 6 months and counting.#ReleaseJavedMohammad
— Afreen Fatima (@AfreenFatima136) December 10, 2022
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Dalit youngster in Raichur denied entry into temple: Video viral
Police, priest, Dalit leaders ‘unaware of matter’
Raichur: The priest of the Ambabhavani Temple in Athkur village has been accused of stopping Dalit youngsters from entering the temple for a ritual related the Navaratri festival, although related parties, including the priest and Dalit leaders of the village, have denied knowledge about the incident.
A video of the youngsters, belonging to the Madiga community, who wanted to wear the ritual garlands for the festive period, being denied entry into the temple and the priest handing them the garlands keeping them outside the threshold has gone viral on social media platforms.
Yapaladinni Police officers, however, have said no police complaint about the matter has been filed so far. In addition, Dalit leaders in Athkur have said no such incident has occurred in the village, but the police officers are conducting an inquiry since youngsters have alleged that they were denied entry into the temple.
The temple priest has also refuted the charges against him, clarifying that action will be taken if a complaint is filed.
