Who is Afreen Fatima, why was her house demolished in Prayagraj?
Prayagraj: The demolition of the house belonging to student activist Afreen Fatima and her father Javed Mohammed by Prayagraj authorities on Sunday, 12 June, has elicited widespread public outrage and accusations of political vendetta. The demolition occurred in the wake of the violent protests that broke out in Uttar Pradesh over the remarks made by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma concerning Prophet Muhammad.
Javed Mohammed, a prominent leader of the Welfare Party of India, was accused of being the key conspirator in the violent protests, which involved arson, stone-pelting, and sloganeering against Nupur Sharma. Afreen Fatima, his daughter, was accused by the police of being her father's advisor and being involved in "notorious activities."
The demolition was executed after the civic body of Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj issued a notice to Afreen Fatima's family, instructing them to vacate the house for demolition. Despite allegations of her involvement in the protests, the police has not presented any evidence against Afreen Fatima in connection with the Prayagraj violence.
Afreen Fatima: A Vocal Activist
Afreen Fatima, 22, is the National Secretary of the Fraternity Movement, the student wing of the Welfare Party. She completed her master’s degree at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2021, where she served as a councillor of the students union. Fatima has been an active participant in various political issues, advocating against the hijab ban in Karnataka, protesting against the 'Sulli deals' controversy, the Bulli Bai app, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Additionally, she initiated the formation of a community for young Muslim women from Allahabad, named ‘Muslimah Allahabad,’ with the aim of fostering sisterhood and mutual support among its members. Afreen Fatima has been a vocal critic of injustice and has actively participated in demonstrations against the CAA.
Police Allegations and Public Outcry
The police alleged that Afreen Fatima frequently provided suggestions to her father, Javed Mohammed. While the police has not presented strong evidence against her, she remains under scrutiny. The action against Fatima and her family has been widely condemned as another instance of 'bulldozer politics' occurring in BJP-ruled states.
Fatima's father, Javed Mohammed, was arrested, and her mother and sister were detained by the Prayagraj Police. In a police complaint, Fatima expressed concern for her family's safety, stating that they were taken into custody without notice or warrant, and their whereabouts were unknown for several hours. The authorities refused to allow friends and family members to meet the detained individuals.
Social Media Uproar and Support for Fatima
The demolition of Afreen Fatima's house sparked outrage on social media, leading to the trending hashtag #StandWithAfreenFatima on Twitter. Public figures such as student activist Gurmehar Kaur, public interest lawyer Prashant Bhushan, and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed their solidarity with Fatima and her family.
The incident has ignited a larger debate about civil liberties, political vendettas, and the treatment of activists in India, drawing attention to the challenges faced by individuals who voice dissent against the government or participate in social and political movements.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
