KOZHIKODE: A Muslim singer from Nadapuram approached police on Thursday seeking protection for herself and her family from Islamic fundamentalists allegedly affiliated to Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the students’ wing of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). They had allegedly threatened her of dire consequences for her “free movement” violating Islamic dress code and challenging moral diktats.
The complaint filed by Asniya Ashmin, 22, daughter of Kunhipparambath Muhammed, a law student in Bengaluru, at Nada-puram police station here alleged that a group of nine persons led by Safeed Abubacker and a group of 50 others were torturing her through online posts, audio clips and comments on social networking sites including WhatsApp and Facebook. Asniya has been a target of Muslim fundamentalist groups since her song Maheele pembillere kandikka…..’, went viral on WhatsApp, it was pointed out.
“I have left Islam and am living an independent life. The group of youngsters are questioning my freedom to live without a religion and also found fault with my womanhood for failing to cover my head while posing for photographs with friends from other communities,” she said in the complaint. The harassment started on February 14 when a picture of Asniya with a group of boys appeared in Facebook, according to the complainant.
“Many audio clips with derogatory comments on my life are spreading through WhatsApp groups in Nadapuram region shaming me and my family,” she added. “My brother in Dubai was also threatened in the name of the picture in which I stood without covering my head,” she said. “I am approaching police as I am afraid that there would be an attack on my family. I have witnessed the same in my childhood when my friends were manhandled by fundamentalist groups in front of my father,” she added.
