Indian social networking sites were buzzing after news circulated about a police investigation of a Muslim girl who prayed in an empty room in a hospital in northern India.
A video of the incident spread widely and was watched by more than a million people on social media within hours, and the video showed a Muslim girl praying in an empty room in a hospital in the city of Allahabad in the state.
And the account of the police of the city of Allahabad - in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where the incident occurred - announced, in an official statement via Twitter, that the girl who appeared in the video did not commit any crime by praying;
Therefore, no investigation will be initiated against her.
प्रयागराज: अस्पताल में महिला ने पढ़ी नमाज।
पुलिस ने FIR दर्ज़ शुरू की जांच।
pic.twitter.com/bjGoRvI7vq
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) September 23, 2022
Despite the issuance of this statement, the mere circulating of news about the police investigation into the incident caused a wide interaction and solidarity with the girl through the communication platforms.
Indian parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi shared the video and commented, "If some people go together with their family to the hospital, and one of them prays in a side far from people without causing harm to anyone, then what is the problem with that? Doesn't the Uttar Pradesh Police have another job to do?" Are we now recording reports against worshipers?”
If you are a Muslim in India, even praying is now an offense.
FIR has been filed against a woman for praying in the hospital in UP.
This is Majoritarian power that delights in punishing and humiliating people.
@watchthestate https://t.co/Fg1fNGAbia
— Suchitra Vijayan (@suchitrav) September 23, 2022
For his part, Indian writer and author Varun Grover said, "Now it has become a crime to mention God even in the hospital, if these 'charges' are leveled against all worshipers of all faiths, then every hospital in the country would have to be renamed 'Central Prison'."
In turn, Indian journalist Ritubarna Chatterjee demanded that the videotape be punished, describing him as a "horrific person", adding, "The person who secretly took a video of a woman praying for a family member in hospital should be arrested."
This is really sad.
Everyone prays in hospital.
That is the only place where many of us actually pray with sincerity.
This News, if true, is sad.
https://t.co/QzFF8RAb1a
— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) September 23, 2022
The Indian journalist attacked the police, saying, "Are the police becoming stupid day by day? What is the crime here? Why waste time discussing reports like this, while asking many rape survivors to return to their homes and choose to reconcile with the criminals." .
The restrictions and attacks targeting Muslims in India increased and took various forms during the past months, in light of a weak response from the Hindu nationalist government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.