India bans Muslim group PFI for alleged ‘terror’ links
Al JazeeraNov 29, 2022
The Facts
On Monday, Al Jazeera reported that Madrassa Azizia, a prominent Muslim school in Bihar Sharif town of Nalanda district in eastern India’s Bihar state, was set on fire by a mob on the occasion of the Hindu festival Ram Navami.
As many as 4.5K books on Islamic culture and literature were reportedly destroyed, when more than 500 people barged into the school during Ram Navami processions on March 31.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Islamophobia is growing in India, and anti-Muslim violence is destroying sacred and vital institutions. The burning of the madrassa and its library by Hindu extremists in Bihar Sharif is one of many instances of violence during Ram Navami. Muslims in many different regions of India have experienced similar violence, yet the Indian government refuses to acknowledge the situation, let alone address it.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Ram Navami violence is the result of administrative failure by Bihar Police. Per the state government's directions, the police did not stop the violence in Bihar Sharif as rioters bombed, burned, and looted Hindu-owned shops. Instead, they penalized the Hindus — who suffered at the hands of the Muslim extremists — during peaceful celebrations of Ram Navami. It is a well-planned conspiracy to give a bad name to the Hindu population.
