UAE princess ramps up criticism of rising Islamophobia in India

DUBAI: Princess Hend Faisal Al Qassimi, a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal family, took to Twitter on Monday to voice her support for the persecuted Muslim minority of India.

The princess has been very vocal in recent weeks against the rising tide of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim violence in India.

“Are the Muslims the new Untouchables of India?,” she tweeted, shortly after posting a quote from Jawaharlal Nehru which reads: “India has known the innocence and insouciance of childhood, the passion and abandon of youth, and the ripe wisdom of maturity that comes from long experience of pain and pleasure; and over and over a gain she has renewed her childhood and youth and age.”

She also shared a Gulf News report regarding action taken by UAE-based companies against three Indian nationals for posting offensive posts on social media against Muslims.

“India is one community. Accept one another as you once use to. Do you know why Indians feel safe in America, Europe & Arabia & flock here to live, work & settle? Because you get a golden opportunity to start afresh, to succeed, to earn, to live & to fall in love,” wrote the princess on May 2.

I am a friend of Mother Earth, and India is my friend.

— Princess Hend Al Qassimi (@LadyVelvet_HFQ) May 3, 2020

I hope this virus vanishes as it suddenly appeared and with it the hate and anger in this world.

— Princess Hend Al Qassimi (@LadyVelvet_HFQ) May 3, 2020

Meanwhile, following an outcry in the Arab world against the increasing Islomophobia, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly called for unity and religious harmony.

On Sunday the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s paternal organization and masthead of Hindu rightwing nationalism, called upon people to “come together and fight the menace of coronavirus jointly.”

“All 130 crore Indians are our family,” said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “We are one. We should not blame the entire community for the mistake of a few individuals. People who are more mature in both communities should come forward and start a dialogue to remove prejudices among people’s minds.”