'Sherni' Indian Muslim girl lauded for standing against Hindu right-wing mob

Malala, John Cusack among others lamented over Muskan Khan being harassed in India's southern Karnataka state

The youngest Nobel Prize Laureate, Malala Yousafzai and Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry along with popular hosts Fakhre Alam and Shafaat Ali have expressed disappointment in a viral video of a Muslim girl being harassed by a right-wing Hindu group in India's southern Karnataka state.

In the said clip, a Burqa-wearing Muslim student, Muskan Khan, who was heckled by Hindu far-right goons, can be seen bravely making her way towards the varsity amid the chaos.

Sharing an article on how the state has banned the hijab in the university, Yousafzai shared, "Refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying. Objectification of women persists — for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalisation of Muslim women."

“College is forcing us to choose between studies and the hijab”.

Refusing to let girls go to school in their hijabs is horrifying. Objectification of women persists — for wearing less or more. Indian leaders must stop the marginalisation of Muslim women. https://t.co/UGfuLWAR8I

— Malala (@Malala) February 8, 2022

Chaudhry penned, "What’s going on in Modi's Endia is terrifying." He added, "Indian Society is declining with super speed under unstable leadership. Wearing hijab is a personal choice just as any other dress citizens must be given free choice."

What’s going on in #ModiEndia is terrifying, Indian Society is declining with super speed under unstable leadership. Wearing #Hujab is a personal choice just as any other dress citizens must be given free choice #AllahHuAkbar

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 8, 2022

Hollywood actor John Cusack also shared his stance and called out the growing fascism in India. 

Fascists versus a lone Muslim woman in Karnataka, India.
Looks like the same kind of fascism spreading everywhere -https://t.co/blNyNLP7o7

— John Cusack (@johncusack) February 8, 2022

Alam, too, shared his two cents on the matter. "If there ever was a clip of girl power in history this is it," the host shared in a tweet. "A clip of bravery, self-belief, faith, courage all rolled into one. Salutes to this sister and prayers for her safety."

If there ever was a clip of girl power in history this is it….a clip of bravery, self belief, faith, courage all rolled into one…..salutes to this sister & prayers for her safety. https://t.co/JO86B3JoTR

— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) February 8, 2022

Sharing artwork of Khan’s brave picture, Ali wrote, "Let's do this."

Let's do this pic.twitter.com/stHFQRM0VX

— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) February 8, 2022

Bollywood ace producer and actor Pooja Bhatt also shared her two cents. "As always, it takes a pack of men to attempt to intimidate a woman. Such frightened, pathetic excuses for human beings. Brandishing their shawls as weapons, cloaking their weakness in cruelty. A sizeable section of a rudderless generation lost to hate."

As always,it takes a pack of men to attempt to intimidate a woman. Such frightened,pathetic excuses for human beings. Brandishing their shawls as weapons,cloaking their weakness in cruelty. A sizeable section of a rudderless generation lost to hate. https://t.co/PtQJ9zxOIM

— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) February 8, 2022

Backstory

Muskan Khan who was heckled by the RSS goons told India’s NDTV, "We will continue (our protests) because it (wearing a hijab) is a part of being a Muslim girl; They (friends from other communities) even supported us." As she parked her scooter inside her college, students with saffron shawls – typically worn by Hindu extremists – shouted at her and tried to surround her, but she remained unfazed by their chants of “Jai Shri Raam” and continued walking towards her classroom while confronting the mob.

A college student in India’s Karnataka state was heckled by RSS goons as she made her way to her class, security personnel tried to ward off the boisterous crowd. In response to their chants, the woman bravely shouted, "Allahu Akbar!"

For more: https://t.co/Z921GRGUWY#etribune pic.twitter.com/U5nbyprVFJ

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) February 8, 2022

“I was just there to submit an assignment; that’s why I entered the college. They were not allowing me to go inside just because I was [wearing] the burqa,” Muskan told a local news channel.

“After that, they started shouting the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ (Hail Lord Ram). Then I started to scream ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great),” she said, adding that she would keep fighting for her right to wear the hijab.