To counter Islamophobia, students start #TalkToAMuslim campaign

AGRA: In an effort to fight off Islamophobia, a group of students, including some from the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), have launched an online campaign with the hashtag #TalkToAMuslim. The initiative, they said, is to “help” people overcome perceived misconceptions about the community. The online campaign has been supported by Bollywood actresses Swara Bhaskar and Gauhar Khan, historian Rana Safvi, among other Twitteratis.The hashtag has attracted over 800 posts from more than 700 users since it was launched on Tuesday.
The first tweet, with the hashtag, was made by Mashkoor Ahmad Usman, the former president of Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union (AMUSU).
Naba Naseem, students’ union president of AMU Women’s College, said, “The purpose of this initiative is to resist and expose BJP’s idea of a ‘new India’ where Muslims are compelled to fight for their identity as human beings.”
“The campaign aims at bridging the gulf between Muslims and other communities. It aims to highlight the injustice and oppression of Muslims at the hands of cow vigilantes. Our campaign is against state sponsored hate politics which is aimed at dividing communities for political gains,” she added.
Usmani said, “It is an attempt to clear myths that are being created by some political parties about Muslims. The community members are being branded as anti-nationals. An atmosphere of hatred has been created everywhere in the name of religion for the past couple of years. Hurting religious sentiments is not only unethical but also against the Constitution.”
“India is a secular nation and the Constituion has given us equal rights. Talking to a Muslim is not a crime,” said Farrukh IIyas, another AMU student.
“Muslims are human beings too. Stop spreading hate and spread love,” said law student of AMU, Wajahat Jilani.