Elsewhere, it is witnessed that gangs have been manning the entry points of villages to prevent the entry of Muslims.
RAWALPINDI: Amid the chaos and turmoil that the coronavirus has caused all around the world, Indian politics has spawned up yet another term to blame the Muslims for the pandemic. The Indian media has started using the term ‘corona jihad” for Covid-19 because they believe that the virus spread as a result of various tablighi jamaats or Islamic missionary movements.
There are a few things that need to be understood. First, it is almost impossible to stop the spread of the virus or prevent it from entering the country altogether; affected countries are trying to contain it and decrease the rate of the spread. Second, the implications of using such provocative and discriminatory terms have an adverse effect on the people. These terms are deeply Islamophobic and contribute to how the Muslims are stereotyped as terrorists.
It seems that the Indian media knows nothing of ethics and professionalism as they use amateur videos of Muslims spitting on vegetables and fruit, licking plates and smearing surfaces with their saliva to back their statements. These videos could very easily be scripted for the sole purpose of defaming the Muslims and to encourage hate against them. As a result, Muslims are being treated inhumanely. Many stories have emerged where Muslims are being beaten and abused for spreading the epidemic. What is more shocking however is that hospitals all across India have made separate rooms for Muslim patients who have been infected by the deadly disease. Elsewhere, it is witnessed that gangs have been manning the entry points of villages to prevent the entry of Muslims.
This is blatant discrimination on the basis of religion, something that the BJP government already endorses to the fullest. I urge international organisations to hold the Indian media accountable for their disrespect, not only to the Muslims across the country but also to the profession of journalism.
Ayesha Zaman
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2020.
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