CLAIM
A viral video on social media shows an Imam sitting on a stage, speaking on the Kashmir issue, where he admits that 'Kashmir is Hindu Land'.
In the one-minute long video, the Imam is heard saying:
The video has been shared widely with the claim that the person in the video is a Saudi prince. The caption along with the video reads: "Opinion of Saudi prince on kashmir issue, see how beautifully he expressed his opinion.👌"
TRUE OR FALSE?
The person in the video is not a Saudi prince, but Imam Tawhidi – an Iranian-born Australian Shia Muslim Imam. He was in India recently to participate in the Arth Fest of art and culture, held in Delhi.
In fact, the entire video of his talk can be accessed on Arth's Youtube page. According to the original video, the Imam had made these comments in response to an audience member's question on the interpretation of the Quran by different cultures in light of the 'wahabisation' of Muslims in Kashmir.
The question and the Imam's subsequent answer can be seen at 54:20 minutes in the video below.
WHO IS IMAM TAWHIDI?
Iranian-born Tawhidi describes himself as a peace activist and has faced extreme criticism from fellow Muslims for what he calls his reformist views and has been accused of stirring up trouble.
Even before he landed in Imam Tawhidi became a subject of contention. On one side, the ideological Right showers him with praise and promotes his views on Islam. On the other, maulanas in the country wrote to the Home Ministry against his visit to India.
Known as @Imamofpeace on Twitter, ahead of his India visit, he had said “If extremist Imams in India had brains they would have gone on vacation by now."
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