Muslim man posts derogatory image of Lord Ram, indulges in iconoclasm
Hajipur, Bihar, India 
24 July, 2023
Case Summary
Bihar Police arrested Muslim man Shaqib Ahmed (23) from Hajipur, Vaishali district, Bihar, for posting derogatory comments about Hindu deity Lord Ram on Instagram. Ahmed, a resident of Masjid Chowk, used his Instagram handle "itts_shaqib" to post derogatory content, including an image depicting Lord Rama in an obscene position. Following a complaint, the police investigated Ahmed's electronic devices and arrested him under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code. Additionally, Ahmed made derogatory remarks about the great warrior Maharana Pratap and boasted about Mughal Emperor Akbar against him. Social media activist Ashwini Shrivastava and Bajrang Dal members protested against the offensive post, prompting swift action from the police. Shrivastava highlighted the increasing frequency of such incidents, averaging about 10-15 cases per day, primarily on platforms like Instagram. He called for stringent measures from the government to address such offences. After the backlash, the derogatory posts made by Ahmed were removed, and he was taken into custody as the investigation continued.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
As per the details, this case has been placed under two prime categories of the hate tracker- Hate speech against Hindus and attack on Hindu religious symbols. The sub-category chosen under the first prime category is- Anti-Hindu slurs and mocking faith- Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stems out of inherent animosity and hates towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The sub-category selected under the second prime category is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses- An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The arrest of Shaqib Ahmed for posting derogatory comments about Lord Ram and making offensive remarks about Hindu figures exemplifies a case of iconoclastic representation that morphs into a religiously motivated hate crime. By depicting Lord Ram in an obscene manner and making disparaging comments about revered historical figures like Maharana Pratap, Ahmed engaged in acts that are not merely disrespectful but intentionally provocative toward the Hindu faith. Such actions reflect a clear animosity against Hindu beliefs and culture, aiming to undermine the sanctity of its religious symbols and figures. This form of iconoclasm—deliberately attacking and degrading religious icons—serves to incite communal tensions and foster hatred against a particular religious community. Further, the nature of his posts indicates a deliberate attempt to mock and diminish Hindu sentiments, which can lead to a broader atmosphere of hostility and division. The use of social media platforms to disseminate such derogatory content further amplifies the reach of these hateful messages, making them a form of religiously motivated hate crime that not only targets individuals but also seeks to destabilize the collective identity and faith of the Hindu community.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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