Three Muslim girls dancing in a flash mob on the streets of Malappuram, Kerala, on Monday, 4 December, were severely trolled online, reported The Indian Express.
The girls, students of a dental college, took part in the fashmob – where they danced to the popular song Jimikki Kammal – as part of the District Health Department’s programme to raise awareness on World Aids Day. They were shamed on social media, mostly on account of sporting hijabs while dancing.
Taking cognisance of the same, the Kerala Women’s Commission on Wednesday, 6 December, registered a suo motu case against the unnamed persons who ‘shamed’ the three girls, and have asked the cyber-wing of the police to book those who had directed “filthy comments and lewd remarks” towards the girls, reported Hindustan Times.
When ANI posted the video on Twitter on Monday, 4 December, a series of derogatory comments towards the girls followed.
Most of the comments stressed on the part that they were Muslim.
RJ Trolled Too
The trolls didn’t spare RJ Sooraj of Malayali channel 98.6 FM either. The RJ had posted a video defending the girls and their right to dance to whatever they wished, reported the Deccan Chronicle.
However, Sooraj was soon met with a stream of online abuse as did the radio channel he was working for. A social media campaign titled ‘#IhateRJSooraj’ also started gaining traction. The thread of verbal attacks only ended after Sooraj was forced to upload an apology video, where he promised to stay away from the channel, the Deccan Chronicle report added.
And Then There Were Supporters
However, many stood up for the girls, with a series of encouraging comments on Twitter and Facebook.
While the names of the girls haven’t been disclosed, local authorities and women’s organisation have defended the girls by seeking action against the online trollers.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times, Deccan Chronicle, and The Indian Express)
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