On Friday, exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen set the cats among the pigeons when she spoke out against defending killers of one’s religion. Ostensibly talking about Shambulal Regar, who had hacked Mohammed Afrazul to death and burnt the body on December 6 in Rajasthan.
She had written on Twitter: “If you defend the killers who kill for your religion, you are not different from those who defend the killers who kill for their religion.”
Afrazul had migrated to Rajsamand district in Rajasthan from West Bengal for work. Shambulal had roped in his 14-year-old nephew to film the killing. After the barbaric act, Shambulal posted videos of the killing with inflammatory and communal comments to defend the act.
The comments come a day after Nasreen had written an article for The Print, comparing the act to those of ISIS-like extremists
She wrote: “But I have seen how Shambhulal brutally murdered Afrazul in Rajasthan, courtesy his nephew’s video on the internet. The murder-video was broadcast on the internet, just like ISIS does. ISIS knows that in their strongholds in Syria, no police will come to arrest them. Shambhulal probably also thought that no one would punish him.”
She wrote: “The point of the video is that Muslims can be killed easily. They can be killed because they invaded India, destroyed temples and plundered villages, converted Hindus, took over a Hindu land and ruled over Hindus. And now, they have commenced ‘love jihad’.”
She wrote that when she criticised the video, many defended Shambulal, similar ire she claims to have faced for condemning Gau Rakshaks (cow vigilantes). She added: “Intolerance is at its peak now. I have discussed irrational Hindu rituals and oppression of women earlier but never received such threats.”
Taslima Nasreen’s strong words created stir on Twitter with many right-wing users strongly condemning her views.
People slammed her and trolled her royally. They Said:
