Indian-Muslim women dancing wearing hijabs face backlash on social media

Critics blasted the girls for dancing claiming it was against their religious beliefs

Three Indian-Muslim hijab wearing women, who participated in a flash mob to raise awareness on AIDS day, have incurred the wrath of the 'moral police' on social media.

The three women, dancing as part of a program organised by the health department of Malappuram, can be seen dancing wearing headscarves and jeans. Videos of their performance soon began circulating online through social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

#WATCH: Three girls dance in a flash mob in Kerala's Malappuram (4.12.17) pic.twitter.com/niyNtIGXn5

— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017

Soon abusive comments started circulating online, with people posting comments and memes in Malayalam which criticised the dancers for increasing anarchy in society by stirring up untoward passions in men. Critics also blasted the girls for dancing by claiming that it was against their religious beliefs. Others claimed that such behaviour was what they saw as a result of feminism, clearly portraying it in a negative light.

https://twitter.com/MeTheAndy/status/937596303688613888

Other commentators also posted messages of support on social media. Dr Shimna Azees, activist and medical officer in Manjeri, wrote on Facebook that those criticising the girls belonged to the minority and it was absurd to deny individual freedom to the girls. "It is very unfortunate that a section of people are considering women as only an 'object' and they should realise that abusing girls in public for the dance is also against their religious belief", she said in a post.

They can dance...its their life....they can do whatever they want to do....live and let live...life is too short for all these

— Atif (@Atifvns) December 4, 2017

Meanwhile a lot of people questioned the newsworthiness of the entire incident:

https://twitter.com/shaikhshameela/status/937567036053450752

https://twitter.com/Fabinthin04/status/937592778225307648

 



Dr Muhammad Ali, Deputy District Medical Officer for Malappuram stated that the flash mob had been organised by students at a local dental college. It's purpose was to raise AIDS awareness among the public. "Not only the dental college students, but girl students from several other colleges and schools also participated in various public functions including street play and pubic rally organised in connection with the campaign", he added.

This story first appeared in the Times of India